From Seed to Soil: How Trees Are Planted for Long-Term Survival

From Seed to Soil: How Trees Are Planted for Long-Term Survival

Planting a tree is about much more than putting a seedling in the ground. With our planting partners, Forest Focus, careful planning and community involvement are at the heart of every planting site.


The process begins with research and surveys to understand local soils, rainfall patterns, water sources, and which tree species naturally thrive in each area. Forest Focus works closely with village leaders to assess land availability, community needs, and the number of trees that can be sustainably supported.

Community Involvement From The Very Beginning

Local communities are involved from the very beginning. Community members are trained and employed to:

  • Collect quality seeds locally

  • Prepare nursery polybags using a mix of forest soil, manure, and sand

  • Raise seedlings in nurseries

  • Transport and plant trees in selected areas

This local involvement ensures that knowledge remains within the community and fosters shared responsibility for long-term success.

Ownership, Monitoring, And Long-Term Protection

To ensure long-term survival, trees are planted on community-owned land. Formal agreements are established, and local representatives are paid to monitor tree survival and report regularly.


Communities own their trees and directly benefit from their survival, instilling ownership in ecosystem maintenance and protection from risks such as open grazing.

Hearing Directly From The Community

In the video below, Village Chairman Hamza speaks directly to GiftTrees contributors and supporters, sharing how his community has received the tree seedlings and inviting continued support to expand these efforts.

Adapting To Conditions To Improve Tree Survival Rates

This community-led and ecologically sensitive approach is designed to give every tree the best possible chance of survival and long-term impact. Our goal is a 90% survival rate from the first planting of all trees, with a clear commitment to carrying out replanting campaigns where trees do not survive.


So far, our 2025 planting efforts with Forest Focus have achieved monthly survival rates ranging from 65% to 95%, reflecting both the challenges and successes of working in dynamic natural conditions.


Where survival rates have been lower, these outcomes have provided valuable learning opportunities. In response, we have made several improvements to strengthen future plantings, including shifting planting windows to better accommodate unforeseen weather patterns, delivering additional training in drip irrigation systems to help farmers support trees during periods of drought, and refining species selection to prioritise trees that are both climate-resilient and well suited to local ecological conditions and economic requirements.


Together, these adaptations are helping us move toward more consistent outcomes and more resilient planting systems.

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GiftTrees simply adds a small amount to your diner's bill. This low addition guarantees the planting of a life-changing GiftTree in a developing country.

Your diners can choose to remove this from their bill should they wish and as a restaurant there is zero-cost for becoming a certified GiftTrees Restaurant.

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