Best Practice Knowledge Base
1.8. Planting
Spruce planting in Morvan Regional Natural Park, France. © Hernán Serrano-León
Tree planting is a form of artificial regeneration, aiming to re-establish tree cover in degraded or deforested areas. This approach can accelerate forest recovery, enhance biodiversity, and contribute to ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and erosion control. Key considerations include choosing adequate species and reproductive material, preparing the site to improve seedling survival, handling of the seedlings until planting, ensuring appropriate spacing, and implementing measures to control competition from weeds and protect against pests andherbivory. Effective monitoring and maintenance adequate to site conditions and climate (e.g., weeding, watering, replacing failed seedlings), are essential to ensure the success.
I. Guidelines
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus Region | Language | Summary |
| 1 | Tree Planting Guide | The Tree Council | 2022 | UK | English | Synthesis of main consideration for tree planting |
| 2 | Bergündung von Waldbeständen | FNR | 2022 | Europe | German | Detailed manual for tree planting, including an overview of main considerations and techniques |
| 3 | Direktsaat im Wald: eine Option für die Waldverjüngung? | WSL | 2021 | Europe | German | Overview of sowing as an alternative for forest regeneration |
| 4 | Grow a greener fugure: A guide for successful tree planting | 2 Billion Trees Initiative | 2019 | Canada | English | Comprehensive guide for tree planting and aftercare |
| 5 | Guide for testing plant material quality | Forestry Comission | 1998 | UK | English | Technical considerations for assessment of plant material |
| 6 | Raising trees and shrubs from seed | Forest Research | 2007 | UK | English | Guide for nursery and seed propagation techniques from seed |
| 7 | Step by step: A tree planter's handbook | Clark | 2024 | Canada | English | Extensive and detailed tree planting manual for Canadian reforestation workers |
| 8 | Manual de restauración forestal | WWF | 2021 | Spain | Spanish | Restoration guidelines with specific guidance for planting |
| 9 | Species selection tool | BFW | 2024 | Europe | English | Map-based tool for species selection in the context of forest restoration, developed in the SUPERB framework |
| 10 | Mixed Species Options for Forests For Tomorrow | Forests for tomorrow | 2013 | Canada | English | Short guide on mixed-species planting of conifers |
| 11 | Species selection tool | BFW | 2024 | Europe | English | Map-based tool for species selection in the context of forest restoration, developed in the SUPERB framework |
II. Books or book chapters
| Nº | Title | Author | Chapter | Chapter author | Year | Focus region | Language | Summary |
| 1 | Forest regeneration manual | Duryea and Dougherty | - | - | 1991 | US | English | Detailed guide on forest regeneration with a focus on planting |
| 3 | Restoring Forests and Trees for Sustainable Development: Policies, Practices, Impacts, and Ways Forward | Katila et al. | Advances in forest restoration management and technology | Stanturf et al. | 2024 | World | English | Compares different regeneration techniques from different practical perspectives, including planting |
| 4 | Plantation silviculture in Europe | Savill et al. | - | - | 1997 | Europe | English | Provides the essential knowledge on the relevance, establishment, and maintenance of plantation forests in Europe |
| 5 | Grundriss des Waldbaus | Burschell and Huss | Verjüngung - Pflanzung | - | 2004 | Europe | German | Comprehensive summary of planting as a regeneration alternative and the main techniques |
| 6 | Silviculture: Concepts and applications | Nyland | Nursery and tree planting operations | - | 2016 | World | English | In-depth guidelines for tree propagation and planting |
| 7 | Waldbau auf Ökologischer Grundlage | Bartsch et al. | Bestandesbegründung: Pflanzung | - | 2020 | Germany | German | Comprehensive summary of planting as a regeneration alternative and the main techniques |
| 8 | Growing plantation forests | West | Establishment: Planting | - | 2014 | World | English | Guidelines for tree planting in the context of plantation forests |
| 9 | The practice of silviculture: Applied forest ecology | Ashton and Kelty | Nursery, planting and seeding techniques | - | 2017 | World | English | General considerations and guidelines for tree planting, among other methods for artificial regeneration |
III. Scientific articles
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus region | Language | Type | Summary |
| 1 | Guidance for successful tree planting initiatives | Brancalion and Holl | 2020 | World | English | Narrative review | Literature review on how to address tree planting for successful outcomes, including basic principles and concepts |
| 2 | Advances in the Mechanization of Regenerating Plantation Forests: a Review | Ramantswana et al. | 2020 | World | English | Narrative review | Review on the state of the art of machanized regeneration of plantation forests, describing main means available for different stages |
| 3 | Tree Establishment: A Review of Some of the Factors Affecting Transplant Survival and Establishment | Struve | 2009 | World | English | Narrative review | Reviews some of the factors that induce seedling transplant shock, and methods used to reduce it. |
| 4 | Fundamentals of tree establishment: a review | Hirons and Percival | 2012 | World | English | Narrative review | Synthesis of the main factors and procedures critical to tree establishment |
| 5 | Reforestation with planting in northern Europe | Nilsson et al. | 2010 | World | English | Narrative review | Summarizes regeneration research on regeneration practices in northern Europe, with a focus on planting |
| 6 | How Planting Method, Weed Abatement, and Herbivory Affect Afforestation Success | Sweeney et al. | 2007 | US | English | Experiment | Evaluates the short- and long-term impacts of planting and weed control and of tree shelters on seedling survival and growth |
| 7 | Afforestation method affects the isotopic composition of planted Pinus halepensis in a semiarid region of Spain | Querejeta et al. | 2008 | Spain | English | Experiment | Evaluates the effect of three different afforestation and site preparation methods on the water performance of planted Aleppo pine seedlings |
| 8 | Influence of different post-planting treatments on the development in Holm oak afforestation | Jiménez et al. | 2007 | Spain | English | Experiment | Examines the influence of various post-planting treatments on the development of Holm oak planted seedlings in an abandoned agricultural field in Spain |
| 9 | The impact of planting density on forest monospecific plantations: An overview | Gabira et al. | 2023 | World | English | Systematic review | Examines the impact of planting density on tree growth for a broad range of species |