Organization due diligence and project verification
Restoration standards & project review
Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation
Restoring forests is a complex and long-term endeavor that requires a holistic approach. To address this, Plant-for-the-Planet has developed its own minimum and top-tier ‘Standards’ for various restoration methods (reforestation, agroforestry, and assisted natural regeneration) that consider biological, social, and economic factors. Organizations and their projects undergo a rigorous verification process during onboarding and are evaluated against these ‘Standards’. Only those meeting the minimum ‘Standards’ are featured on the platform and allowed to actively collect donations.
In the second phase of due diligence, external experts visit the projects for on-site evaluations based on the established standards. These evaluation results are then reviewed, discussed, and ultimately assessed by an independent, voluntary panel of experts - the so-called Review Board.
This thorough process ensures that only high-quality, impactful projects are showcased and supported through our platform, fostering trust and delivering meaningful results. At the same time, Plant-for-the-Planet remains committed to continuously questioning, reviewing, and refining these standards, integrating the latest scientific research findings to ensure their effectiveness and relevance.
Clear and Comprehensive Standards: Establishing robust, well-defined criteria for different restoration approaches that incorporate ecological, social, and economic factors is essential for consistency and credibility.
Thorough Verification Process: A rigorous verification process during onboarding ensures that only projects meeting the standards are featured, building trust among donors and ensuring high-quality initiatives.
Expert Involvement and Independent Evaluation: External experts play a critical role in assessing projects on-site, and an independent panel ensures impartial, transparent evaluation, further strengthening the credibility of the platform.
Commitment to Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing and updating standards based on the latest scientific findings ensures the platform remains relevant, adaptive, and aligned with current best practices in forest restoration.
Stakeholder Engagement and Transparency: Clear communication with project owners, and experts, along with a transparent evaluation process, fosters trust and ensures ongoing support for high-quality projects.
Key Lessons Learned
Rigorous Standards Ensure Credibility: The importance of developing and maintaining clear, robust standards cannot be overstated. Well-defined criteria for different restoration approaches are crucial to ensure that only high-quality projects are featured. Without strong guidelines, it’s difficult to build trust among donors and other stakeholders.
Expert Involvement is Essential: Engaging external experts for on-site evaluations adds an important layer of credibility to the platform. Their independent assessments help ensure that projects meet the required standards and provide valuable insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of restoration efforts.
Continuous Improvement is Crucial: Regularly reviewing and updating the standards based on new scientific findings and real-world experiences ensures that the platform evolves and stays relevant. This commitment to continuous improvement fosters long-term success and adaptability in a rapidly changing field.
Aspects That Haven’t Worked
Overly Complex Verification Processes: Initially, the verification process was more cumbersome than expected, causing delays in project onboarding. This was a barrier to scaling, especially for smaller organizations with limited resources. Streamlining the verification process without compromising on quality could improve efficiency.
Inconsistent Stakeholder Engagement: At times, communication with some stakeholders — particularly local project implementers — was less frequent, which created gaps in feedback and adjustments. Ensuring more consistent engagement and collaboration throughout the verification and monitoring process would enhance the overall success.
Advice for Replication
Build Clear, Scalable Systems Early: Developing clear, scalable processes from the start can help avoid bottlenecks and inefficiencies down the line. Make sure your verification and evaluation systems can handle growth and adapt to new challenges.
Simplify the Verification Process: While rigor is important, consider building flexibility into the process so that it doesn’t become a barrier to entry. This can help support a broader range of projects while maintaining quality.
Ensure Strong Communication with All Stakeholders: Regular, transparent communication with all involved parties—including donors, project implementers, and experts—is essential. Establish clear lines of feedback and engagement to foster collaboration and ensure that everyone is aligned on the platform’s goals.
Invest in Continuous Learning: Make room for iterative improvements. Learn from both successes and challenges, and adapt the platform’s processes and standards as you gather new data and insights.
