Evidence-Based Forest News

Weekly Forest News, April 11

From mangroves to megadata, this week’s green news tracks the global push to save forests—and maybe humanity, too.

Title on green background with pictures of field workers.
Weekly news column.

Researchers Unveil Global Database of 575 Nature-Based Carbon Offset Projects

A team of researchers has launched an open-access database detailing 575 nature-based carbon offset projects across 55 countries. This comprehensive resource aims to enhance transparency in the voluntary carbon market by providing geospatial boundaries for projects focused on avoided deforestation (AD), afforestation, reforestation, and re-vegetation (ARR), and improved forest management (IFM). The database draws from carbon registries, direct communications with project managers, and manual georeferencing, achieving an impressive accuracy score of 0.98 ± 0.015.

Will this newfound transparency in carbon offset projects lead to more effective climate action, or just more data for us to sift through?

👉👉 Read more in Nature

Can Transparency Power Pakistan’s Green Economy Revolution?

Pakistan stands at a pivotal moment, eyeing billions in green investment through afforestation, renewable energy, and carbon credits. But without a transparent, well-regulated carbon market that aligns with global standards, this potential could wither. Experts argue that clear verification systems, public-private partnerships, and institutional capacity are essential to transform climate vulnerability into economic strength. After all, in the green economy, credibility is currency.

Can Pakistan turn climate vulnerability into economic advantage without losing sight of transparency?

👉👉 Read more in The Express Tribune

Mangrove Reforestation: Women, Wallets, and Wetlands

In South Negros, while the men are out fishing, the women are planting the future—literally. Armed with seedlings, sweat, and serious eco-cred, they’re turning mangrove reforestation into a grassroots green economy. Thanks to a partnership between Silliman University and GCash’s GForest app (yes, your bill payments are saving the planet), these coastal communities are building natural climate defenses and getting paid for it. With over 70% of participants being women, it’s not just about saving the shoreline—it’s about rewriting who holds the power in sustainability.

But here’s the billion-leaf question: if we want thriving forests and thriving families, when will carbon finance finally value their labor and their leaves?

👉👉 Read more in Philstar

Xi Focus: Planting Trees to Fortify China’s ‘Green Assets‘

For the 13th consecutive year, Chinese President Xi Jinping grabbed a shovel and joined citizens in Beijing’s annual tree-planting fest. This isn’t just a photo-op; it’s a statement. Xi emphasized that “voluntary tree planting is a nationwide initiative that must be carried on for generations,” highlighting the nation’s commitment to environmental rejuvenation. China’s afforestation efforts have propelled forest coverage from a modest 10% in 1949 to an impressive 25% in 2024. The ambitious Three-North Shelter Forest Program, aka the “Great Green Wall,” has been pivotal in combating desertification, transforming vast stretches of arid land into thriving ecosystems.

Can China maintain this green momentum, or will these efforts be overshadowed by industrial expansion?

👉👉 Read more in Global Times

Space Intelligence: Bringing Trust to Forest Carbon Credits with Real-Time Data

In a carbon market plagued by foggy math and sketchy tree-counting, UK climate tech startup Space Intelligence is here to clear the air—literally and figuratively. Founded by a duo of forest nerds turned satellite savants, the company uses LiDAR, SAR, and a soup of acronyms to turn satellite data into crystal-clear carbon accounting. Their tools help buyers, certifiers, and skeptics track what’s really happening in forests—from deforestation alerts to carbon stock shifts. With high-profile clients and a contract with ICE (yes, that ICE), they’re becoming the Bloomberg Terminal of the carbon forest game.

Will high-resolution data finally give forest carbon credits the credibility they need—or will transparency just expose more greenwashing?

👉👉 Read more in CarbonCredits.com

Saugeen Conservation Nears 6 Million Trees Planted

Since 1974, Ontario’s Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority has quietly gone full Johnny Appleseed, planting nearly 6 million trees and restoring over 8,400 hectares of land in partnership with 1,100+ landowners and municipalities. Their forestry program offers everything from free site assessments to cost-sharing schemes, and they’re a certified delivery agent for Canada’s 50 Million Tree Program—meaning up to 90% of planting costs can be covered. It’s not just about growing trees; it’s about growing climate resilience, biodiversity, and community stewardship.


But here’s the kicker: with this kind of regional success, what’s stopping the rest of the country from scaling up fast—and transparently?

👉👉 Read more in CKNX News

Acción Andina: Reviving Incan Reforestation to Combat Climate Change

In a move that would make the ancient Incas nod in approval, Peruvian biologist Constantino Aucca Chutas is rallying Indigenous communities to reforest the Andes with native Polylepis trees. Through Acción Andina, they’ve planted over 12 million trees, aiming to restore a million hectares of mountain ecosystem. With support from the Mastercard-led Priceless Planet Coalition, this initiative blends ancestral wisdom with modern conservation efforts.

But here’s the twist: can resurrecting age-old practices truly address today’s climate challenges, or are we just leafing through history?

👉👉 Read more in Mastercard

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Edited by Chris Harris