Data from: Advances and shortfalls in applying best practices to global tree-growing efforts

As global tree-growing efforts have escalated in the past decade, copious
failures and unintended consequences have prompted many reforestation best
practices guidelines. The extent to which organizations have integrated
these ecological and socioeconomic recommendations, however, remains
uncertain. We reviewed websites of 99 intermediary organizations
that promote and fund tree-growing projects to determine how well they
report following best practices. Nearly half the organizations stated tree
or area planting targets, but only 25% had measurable, time-bound
objectives. Most organizations discussed the benefits local communities
would receive from trees, but only 38% reported measures of these
outcomes. Non-profit organizations with greater prior experience converged
more closely on best practices, and their level of scientific expertise
was positively associated with clearer project selection standards.
Although many tree-growing organizations acknowledge the importance of
clear goals, local community involvement, and monitoring, our results
raise questions regarding whether long-term benefits are being achieved
and emphasize the need for stronger public accountability standards.