 Reforestation and afforestation projects can both meet the standards under the CDM. However, projects must be in compliance with the host country's sustainable-development objectives and must also promote the preservation of biodiversity. In order for development to be sustainable in the long term, it must take place within a framework that does not focus entirely on short-term financial returns, but also addresses wider economic, social and environmental issues.
For a reforestation project to qualify under the CDM it would typically be required to address issues such as the following:
- The re-establishment of natural biodiversity, so as to provide an environment where the natural fauna and flora of the region can thrive. This requires that over much of the area to be reforested, a wide variety of indigenous trees and other plants must be established and grown in a manner that they would provide the natural habitat, cover and corridors that would promote the re-establishment of the indigenous fauna within the designated area.
- The provision of wood-fuel and construction timber to support the needs of the indigenous people of the area, thus reducing pressures on deforestation and timber collection and to contribute to meeting the country's internal and export needs. This may require that in any reforestation scheme, a certain area of commercial woodlots is set aside in which non-indigenous, fast-growing trees may be planted, managed and harvested in a sustainable manner.
- The ongoing protection and management of the reforested area, to prevent its subsequent deforestation or destruction.
- The creation of local sustainable industry such as eco-tourism and agriculture.
- The selection of areas for reforestation in line with the country's development and environmental protection plans.
In recent years large-scale reforestation projects have often attracted criticism, because they have not taken into account the wider sustainable-development and biodiversity requirements of the areas concerned. For example, in Brazil, there has been criticism of projects that have focused on planting monocultures of eucalyptus, which while providing timber and fuel, have done little to help support the country's natural biodiversity.
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