Colombia’s Reforestation Hits 23-Year Low—Even as Deforestation Slows

Colombia just pulled off a rare win—deforestation dropped to one of its lowest rates in two decades—but there’s a catch: reforestation efforts hit rock bottom, marking the worst rate since 2001. Environment Minister Susana Muhamad credits stronger enforcement for cutting illegal logging, but the country’s forests are still under siege from armed groups, drug traffickers, and illegal land grabs. Plus, El Niño’s droughts and fires torched even more land. While the government fights to keep deforestation down, the real challenge is bringing back lost forests—before it’s too late.

What bold moves should Colombia take to revive reforestation efforts?

👉 👉 Read more in Noticias Ambientales

TUI Care Foundation Goes Big on Reforestation in Mauritius and the Dominican Republic

The TUI Care Foundation is cranking up its tree-planting game, launching new TUI Forest projects in Mauritius and the Dominican Republic as part of its "Forest February" initiative. Over in Sánchez, Dominican Republic, they’re pushing their total to 3.6 million trees, restoring another 100 hectares of mangroves and rolling out eco-tourism experiences—because why just plant trees when you can also train nature guides and create jobs?

Meanwhile, in Mauritius, where mangroves cover just 0.07% of the island, TUI is planting trees, setting up community nurseries, and launching guided nature tours and wildlife photography workshops. The goal? Boost conservation, protect coastal communities, and turn reforestation into a win for both nature and local economies.

Can reforestation and tourism work hand in hand to drive real environmental impact?

👉 👉 Read more in the Press Release

Open-Source Tech Could Supercharge Reforestation Efforts

Reforestation remains the most effective carbon removal strategy, but tracking its impact is the real challenge. Tobias Augspurger, founder of OpenSustain.tech, argues that open-source tools are key to making tree-planting efforts transparent, scalable, and scientifically sound.

His platform catalogs open-source climate solutions, including forestry monitoring tools that help validate reforestation data. He envisions a future where open collaboration creates a standardized toolset for measuring forest recovery, ensuring that tree-planting projects aren’t just good PR—but real climate solutions backed by verifiable data.

How can open-source technology help reforestation efforts reach their full potential?

👉👉 Read our interview on Ground Truth

Tree Planting Still Leads in Carbon Removal—Despite Climate and Economic Unknowns

A new study confirms that tree planting remains the most cost-effective way to remove carbon, even as climate change and economic instability add layers of uncertainty. The UK aims to plant 30,000 hectares annually until 2050, but experts warn that reforesting farmland could strain food security and create unforeseen costs.

The research, published in PNAS, suggests a diversified tree-planting strategy—mixing species and locations—to hedge against future climate and economic shifts. While alternatives like carbon capture tech exist, they remain costly and unproven at scale. The conclusion? Trees are still our best bet for carbon removal—if we plant them wisely.

How can policymakers balance reforestation with food security and economic stability?

👉👉 Read the study in PNAS

This Week in Forest Finance: Big Money, Bigger Trees

From Africa to Arkansas, Brazil to Brunei, forests are cashing in. USDA NRCS is handing out $64M in Arkansas to turn flood-prone farmland into thriving woodlands. Meanwhile, CIF just threw down $143M across three continents, and Brunei’s $480M development plan has reforestation front and center. With carbon credits, biodiversity, and cold hard cash driving the movement, forests aren’t just growing—they’re becoming an economic force.

How can we make reforestation even more financially irresistible?

Vietnam’s Hai Duong Speeds Up Reforestation After Storm Damage

Taking advantage of ideal weather conditions, Hai Duong province is accelerating efforts to restore forests damaged by storm No. 3. Across Chi Linh and Kinh Mon, forest owners are planting acacia and eucalyptus to replace lost trees, with some leaving eucalyptus stumps to regrow for future harvests.

The province aims to replant over 418 hectares this year, making it the largest reforestation campaign in its history. With strong seedling supplies and government-backed support, Hai Duong’s forests are on track for a strong recovery, reinforcing both economic stability and environmental resilience.

Is eucalyptus a smart choice for large-scale reforestation, or should other species take priority?

👉👉 Read more in Hai Duong Online Newspaper

Ghana’s Forestry Commission Ends Youth in Afforestation Program, Affecting 40,000 Workers

Ghana’s Forestry Commission has ordered the immediate disengagement of all workers under the Youth in Afforestation and Reforestation Programme (YAP), following a directive from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Since its launch in 2018, YAP has employed over 40,000 young people to restore degraded forests and support conservation efforts.

The sudden move raises concerns about the future of reforestation efforts and the jobs tied to them, as Ghana works to balance forest restoration with economic realities.

What role should youth-led initiatives play in the global "Generation Restoration" movement?

👉👉 Read more in 3News

Minnesota Needs Your Pine Cones to Keep Reforestation on Track

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking the public for help: they need pine cones—specifically black spruce and jack pine. With poor cone crops and fewer workers to gather seeds, the state’s reforestation efforts are at risk of slowing down. Warmer winters have made harvesting black spruce cones even harder, as they only grow at the tops of trees, which loggers can’t access unless trees are already felled. Without enough seeds, Minnesota’s forests could struggle to recover in the years ahead.

Could more community-driven seed collection efforts help reforestation efforts nationwide?

👉👉 Read more in Grand Rapids Herald-Review