Tree planting

• Important: in very dry areas, trees can compete with crops for water availability.
• Maintenance: trees require maintenance especially during the first years
• Site conditions are important in determining which maintenance practices need to be implemented for successful tree growth.
• Species: different species require different conditions for growth. Therefore, knowing the species characteristics and its needs will increase the chances of a tree’s survival.

Material required

• Shovel, planting tube, or something to dig a hole in which to plant the seedling
• Manure or good soil
• Mulching material
• Seedlings, tree cuttings or seeds according to the chosen method

Steps of implementation 

Trees can be planted in different and diverse climatic circumstances, as long as all the conditions which allow tree growth (such as deep enough soils and the right hydrological conditions) are present. A good rule of thumb is that if there are trees naturally growing in the same area, or if trees would naturally grow there if disturbances, (such as grazing) were absent, it is very likely to be suited for the growth of local tree species.

1. Choosing the tree species: Before planting, it is crucial to choose the tree species that most suit the environmental conditions of the area where tree planting is meant to occur. Indigenous species are usually the most resistant and should therefore be prioritized. Moreover, to increase tree survival, it is fundamental to know well the tree species and the conditions in which they thrive.

2. Choosing the planting method/design: There are different ways of planting trees. Choosing the right one depends on a range of factors, which are bounded by the areas where the implementation would take place.

• • Growing trees from direct seeding: This technique is primarily used to improve landscape restoration efforts when a large area needs to be reforested and the resources are limited. The advantage lies in its low cost and versatile nature. It works especially well if the environmental conditions are well-suited for tree growth and there is enough moisture in the soil. This technique is also called “Muvuca” in some parts of  South America. 
  • Growing trees from stem-cuttings: This method allows for the growing of trees from cuttings of existing healthy trees, with the advantage of evading the costs associated with the need to use seed nurseries.  These strong stem cuttings are usually less affected by pests or grazing (as a young seedling would be). However, this technique requires watering as well as some technical skills in the start-up phases. Click here to read more about it and here if you need a clear step-by-step overview.
  • Transplanting potted seedlings from nurseries or seed orchards: Nurseries are very important as they provide the ideal conditions for seedlings to grow, highly increasing their survival rate. Click here for guidelines on how to establish a nursery. Seedlings from a nursery are usually grown in plant pots and when they are tall enough, they are transported to the desired location and transplanted into the ground. However, there are some important factors to consider when transplanting seedlings that will determine the success of the practice. These factors include the time of the year, the quality of seedlings, the site conditions in which the seedlings are transplanted, and possible external disturbances (such as grazing animals). 

Transplanting seedlings can be quite a stressful process for the young trees and some good practices can increase the survival rates of transplanted seedlings: 

• Leaving the tree in the pot that is moved to the area where it will eventually be transplanted for a predetermined amount of time before transplanting it. This will give the young trees time to adapt to the environmental conditions without also having to deal with adapting the root system to the new soil.
• Watering trees: this can be done only once during the planting, or it can be done more often during the early stages following the planting. It should be done according to the needs of the tree
• Fencing: fencing might be needed to prevent animals from grazing on the young trees.
• Weed control: it is important to prevent weeds from suffocating the young seedlings.
• Adding mulch and manure (or good quality soil) can help to encourage growth

3. Adaptation of planting according to climatic conditions: The planting of trees should be tailored to the climatic conditions and the chosen tree species. Here are some examples of how to adapt the planting according to wet or dry conditions:

• In dry areas:
  • One of the most successful ways to grow trees in dry areas is to use the Planting pits method. Demi-lunes, Eyebrow terraces (on slopes), and Negarims are also very efficient, depending on the situation.
  • Another practice used in very dry areas is to trim some branches, leaving only the top 2 or 3, to avoid unnecessary loss of water through evapotranspiration. More details about this method can be found here.
  • Awareness of forest fires and forest fire prevention, as well as how to adopt forest management measures that prevent wildfire outbreaks is essential.
• In wet areas:
  • Make sure that the soil has good drainage 
  • In extreme conditions, the trees can be planted on a raised planting area to ensure better drainage.
  • Leave enough spacing between the trees to allow for air to circulate and the water to evaporate.

4. Maintenance: Pruning and thinning: To keep the trees at the desired height, it is important to prune the branches, making sure to always leave the tree alive and in good condition. There are different ways and timings to practice this, according to the region you live in. If in doubt, you can ask an extension officer or someone who has experience with thinning trees. The biomass that results from these procedures can be very profitable as it can used as fodder, burning wood or for other uses.

This intervention contributes to:

Estimation of costs & benefits of intervention: 

(Source)

*The establishment costs greatly vary according to different factors such as: country, location of the plot, transportation costs, nursery availability, and distance of the nursery to the planting area.

1. Planting trees to improve livelihoods, Albania 

Description
As a result of earthquake destruction, dozens of families in Fushë-Krujë, Albania have turned to planting tree growing as a source of income. Local engagement and interactions within the community have proven crucial for the development of the project. Asllan, a 68-year-old man from Thumana, had to move in with his son after an earthquake made his home uninhabitable. His family of seven now lives in a small house and relies on agriculture and animal husbandry for their livelihood. Despite owning 12 dunams of land, high cultivation costs forced Asllan to lease part of it. The family was selected for the “Improving the family capabilities to respond to emergencies” project, which provided them with 20 orange saplings, 20 tangerine saplings, 20 pear saplings, and 5 olive saplings. Asllan happily planted these trees, hoping they would provide food and income in the future. The project also supported 11 other families in Thumana with 644 fruit seedlings in total, including orange, tangerine, pear, olive, and lemon saplings. These families planted the trees on their land, aiming to boost their income through future fruit sales. Additionally, 50 families received agricultural and animal husbandry inputs like fruit saplings and irrigation pumps. Training on farm management and market access was provided to 65 small farmers. 

2. Large-scale system restoration in the Icelandic woodlands. 

Description
The Hekluskógar project in South Iceland aims to transform barren, desertified land around Mount Hekla into resilient, healthy woodlands. This area, once rich in birch woodlands, has suffered extensive degradation due to volcanic activity, deforestation, and overgrazing. The project, initiated in 2005, focuses on replanting native birch trees to stabilize the soil, reduce erosion, and mitigate the impact of future volcanic eruptions. The goal is to restore the native birch woodlands, enhancing the resilience of the land and providing ecosystem services to the local community. Despite challenges such as maintaining stakeholder enthusiasm and securing long-term funding, the project has achieved some successes over more than a decade. The Hekluskógar project is Europe's largest reforestation effort as of 2018, supported by the ENABLE project and co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.  Another example can be found here.

3. Planting poplar forest in the flood plains of high mountains river areas, Tajikistan 

Description
In the Jamoat Vankala area of Shugnan district in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, Tajikistan., afforestation efforts focus on planting fast-growing poplar trees on low-productivity sandy lands in river valley areas. This project provides essential firewood and timber for the local population while offering environmental benefits. The region's natural forests, primarily consisting of slow-growing Salix Schugnanica, struggle to meet the high demand for firewood due to extremely cold temperatures for 6-7 months a year. In the 1980s, 10 hectares of low-productivity pasture land were converted into an irrigated poplar forest, initially managed by a sovkhoz and now by a local farmer post-Soviet Union collapse. The establishment of this poplar forest began with creating irrigation canals and planting poplar seedlings, which required frequent watering initially due to the thirsty sandy soils. Maintenance efforts include protecting the area from grazing cattle, selective tree felling, additional planting on barren soil, and preventing illegal deforestation. Overall, the poplar afforestation project helps meet local firewood needs, provides timber, and enhances the environment in this harsh, arid region.

Webinars 

• Tree planting webinars