Welcome to Ground Truth Forest News, where we dive into reforestation efforts with a mix of curiosity, optimism, and just enough skepticism to keep things interesting. We like to think of ourselves as a sillier, more lighthearted Mongabay—here to spotlight the good news in conservation while keeping a sharp eye on the details.

And when it comes to reforestation, there’s one thing we take very seriously: the truth. (It’s in the name, after all.)

Reforestation Promises: Where’s the Proof?

Every day, we hear ambitious claims about tree planting. “A million trees here,” “ten million trees there.” Sounds great, right? But without publicly available data, it’s impossible to know whether these promises are more than just good PR.

The public deserves to know the answers to some very basic questions:

• Who planted the trees, and who funded the work?
• What species were planted, and how many?
• Where did the planting take place? (Hint: “somewhere over there” doesn’t count.)
• When were the trees planted?
• Why were they planted? Carbon sequestration? Wildlife habitat? A flashy press release?
• How is success being measured? How many survive? How much carbon is stored?

Why Accountability Matters

1. To Spot Greenwashing
Let’s face it: planting trees makes for great marketing. But how many companies making bold claims are providing evidence? Without data, it’s impossible to separate meaningful efforts from smoke and mirrors.

2. To Build Public Trust
Transparency strengthens trust. When donors, communities, and investors can see what’s happening on the ground, they’re more likely to support these efforts.

3. To Measure Real Impact
Tree planting is only the beginning. We need data to measure survival rates, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and long-term benefits. Otherwise, it’s just planting sticks in the ground.

4. To Foster Collaboration
Governments, businesses, and NGOs all benefit from shared, accurate data. Open data aligns efforts and prevents everyone from planting trees on the same plot of land.

5. To Drive Smarter Innovation
Detailed, transparent data empowers communities, scientists, and developers to create tools and strategies that work.

What Does Transparency Look Like?

For a reforestation program to be truly accountable, here’s what we should be able to see:

• Exact locations: Show us the polygons! Maps with precise planting locations, not vague claims.
• Tree counts and species diversity: How many trees? What species? Was biodiversity prioritized?
• Monitoring data: Survival rates, growth rates, and outcomes over time.

In Canada, for example, detailed reporting like this is the standard in forestry projects. If it’s doable there, it’s doable everywhere.

Shoutout to the Pioneers

There’s good news: platforms like explorer.land, Restor.Eco, the Brazilian Restoration and Reforestation Observatory and others are leading the way in transparency.

These tools offer maps and data that let us watch reforestation projects unfold in near real time. But the field still has a long way to go—more detailed and accessible reporting would make a huge difference.

Why We Care (And Why You Should Too)

We’ve spent years on the ground in reforestation. We know what accountability looks like, and we believe that transparency is the foundation of trust.

With #AccountabiliTrees, we’re calling for open data, honest reporting, and a shared commitment to doing reforestation right. Let’s separate the fluff from the facts—and celebrate the projects that are getting it right. Let's find the exisitng data on reforestation, and let's open up what's hidden (within reason).

What do you think? Are you ready to demand transparency, too?