Reporting Tree Replacement Numbers for TerraFund Projects

This article provides guidance on the different types of tree replacement and explains when and how to report replacement trees in TerraMatch. You will report slightly differently depending on when you replace dead seedlings; read the details below to find the scenario and reporting requirements that best reflect your project’s replacement activities. 

Article Outline

Approaches to Seedling Replacement

Replacement Planting During the Same Reporting Cycle as Initial Planting 

Replacement Planting During a Later Reporting Cycle than Initial Planting 

Approaches to Seedling Replacement

Seedling "replacement” can be defined as a process of replacing newly planted seedlings that have died due to different factors such as disease, poor soil conditions, drought or other natural disaster, pests, poor seedling stock or seedling damage during the transportation and planting process. Replacement ensures that the initial targeted planting stock is regained.  

There are two types of replacement :  

• The process of filling the spaces occupied by trees/seedlings which have died is commonly known as “beating up" the plantation (W.L. Taylor, 1943) This is a standard practice and typically occurs within the first month(s) after planting. 
• “Replanting,” also referred to as reforestation, involves planting seedling over an area of land where a major disturbance has led to the death of majority of seedlings, trees, e.g., damaged by fire, disease, natural disaster or human activity e.g. when trees were harvested (H. Gyde Lund, 1999). 

Replacement Planting During the Same Reporting Cycle as Initial Planting 

When a seedling is planted, dies, and is replaced all within the same six-month reporting period on TerraMatch, your project should simply report the original number of seedlings planted in the relevant site report. This way, you will avoid double counting.  
  
Here is an example:  

• During the first season of planting on Site A, your project planted 100,000 seedlings, and within 3 weeks, 100 seedlings died.  
• Your team replaced the dead 100 seedlings with 100 seedlings within the TerraMatch reporting cycle.
• In your report for Site A on TerraMatch, you report 100,000 trees planted, not 100,100.

Replacement Planting During a Later Reporting Cycle than Initial Planting 

If your project replaces dead seedlings after you submit a report where you first count those seedlings, you should report the replacement planting in the next report for that site.

You can find the replacement planting questions under the “Maintenance and Monitoring” section of your site report: 

• Answer “yes” on the third question in this section, “Have you done any replanting of previously planted trees on this site ?” 

  • Report the number of trees per species replaced. 
  • The seedlings you use for replacement planting should match the number of each species lost. Include only the replaced trees there. If 100 were dead, and 90 seedlings were planted as replacements, “90” should be reported here