Buyers Want Proof, Not Promises in the Carbon Market  

The voluntary carbon market is evolving, and transparency is now the top priority. A new BCG & EDF report shows that companies are willing to pay up to 50% more for afforestation and reforestation (ARR) credits that come with clear, verifiable impact. With demand for carbon credits set to quadruple by 2030, high-quality projects stand to benefit the most.  

Is this a sign that carbon markets are becoming more effective, or is there still work to do?

👉👉 Read our column on Ground Truth

Can Cuba’s Climate Resilience Project Overcome the Odds?  

Cuba’s $119.9 million climate resilience project is tackling food security and land restoration with agroforestry, reforestation, and climate-smart farming. A mid-term check-in says it’s on track—despite delays from fuel shortages, procurement hiccups, and, well, the world being a mess. Farmers are engaged, ecosystems are recovering, but time is tight.

Will this project hit its targets by 2027?

👉👉 Read more from the FAO report

Fiji’s Tree-Planting Effort Faces a Survival Problem—Can It Be Fixed?  

Fiji set out to plant 30 million trees in 15 years, but so far, only 45 percent of the 18 million planted have survived. That’s a lot of missing trees. Officials blame tough conditions for native species and are now boosting research, soil testing, and community involvement to turn things around.  

Can stronger, publicly-available monitoring and better planning help these trees stick around for the long haul?

👉👉 Read the article in FBC News

Is the Great Green Wall Really 15% Complete? The Numbers Say… Maybe

The Great Green Wall is hailed as Africa’s grand reforestation project, but its 15% completion claim hasn’t changed since 2019—raising eyebrows. Satellite data shows forest cover is increasing, but without consistent on-the-ground tracking, the true impact is murky. Food security is improving in some areas, but governance and land tenure challenges persist.

Is this a restoration success or a data gap problem?

Read our fact-check on Ground Truth

Can Climate Mitigation and Biodiversity Coexist? The Answer is… Complicated  

Reforestation helps both climate and wildlife, but afforestation and bioenergy crops may do more harm than good for biodiversity. A new study models how 14,234 vertebrate species will respond to land-based climate strategies by 2050—and it turns out, converting non-forest land can shrink habitat more than it helps.  

Should we rethink tree planting in some areas to truly protect biodiversity?

👉👉 Read more in Science

Reforestation in Tanzania: More Than Just Carbon Storage  

A new study highlights that reforestation in Tanzania’s northeastern highlands isn’t just about carbon sequestration—it’s also key for climate adaptation, water regulation, and biodiversity conservation. Researchers argue that "climate-smart reforestation” is needed to balance these benefits while anticipating climate-related risks.  

Can reforestation strategies move beyond carbon to truly support ecosystems and communities?

👉👉 Read more in AJOL