Tree planting is trending globally. Politicians, activists and social media influencers have pledged to plant trillions of trees to curb runaway carbon emissions and restore degraded landscapes.

The growing number of ambitious tree planting initiatives is encouraging. How can the world really ensure that tree planting is good for both people and the planet? To make these projects successful for both, tree planting needs to be backed by scientific evidence and context-specific implementation. Sustainable projects require the right tree, for the right place and the right purpose.

Through this evidence-based approach, CIFOR-ICRAF scientists are helping to ensure that today’s tree planting investments will provide benefits for generations.