REPLANT’NC: Creating a platform for inventorying and promoting revegetation operations in New Caledonia to optimize collective efforts

New Caledonia, one of the world’s 35 biodiversity hotspots, is home to an exceptional flora (over 3,500 species) and has an endemism rate of over 70%. However, forest ecosystems have declined sharply due to increasing pressures (fires, land clearing, invasive alien species, climate change), with the loss of 2/3 of the dense rainforests and nearly all of the dry forest.

Numerous reforestation efforts are being carried out by a wide range of stakeholders, but there is currently no structured database to track these initiatives. Without this comprehensive overview, it becomes difficult to assess the effectiveness of the collective effort across the region.

This project aims to create a platform for identifying and promoting revegetation initiatives in New Caledonia, with the goal of improving coordination among stakeholders, building on existing knowledge, and optimizing collective action.

It will rely in particular on applications that allow for the consultation and entry of data on revegetation projects, based on feedback from stakeholders working in the field. A website dedicated to revegetation in New Caledonia will present a territorial map of the initiatives, key indicators, and highlight the stakeholders involved in revegetation.

Designed as an integrative and scalable tool, this project will eventually generate indicators to assess the success of revegetation operations, particularly in terms of total area and number of revegetated sites, number of plants and species used, and survival and/or mortality rates. It will also help characterize the collective effort associated with revegetation operations, particularly by measuring the number of stakeholders involved, as well as the number of participants and volunteers involved in implementing the projects.

Project objectives

The project is structured around three complementary objectives aimed at improving knowledge, developing practical tools, and strengthening stakeholder engagement in revegetation.

• Objective 1: Assess the needs of field operators and managers;
• Objective 2: Develop a system for collecting, managing, and utilizing information related to revegetation sites in New Caledonia;
• Objective 3: Inform the general public, project leaders, and managers about the tool’s existence, and train users on its applications.

Social inclusion and gender equity

Overall, the project’s implementation will ensure compliance with GEDSI principles (gender equality, disability, and social inclusion) across all activities.

• The project aims to disseminate information on reforestation in New Caledonia to ensure equitable access to information for all audiences.
• A balanced representation of women and men will be sought within the working group, as well as equitable participation in discussions.
• The needs, expectations, and constraints of women involved in the reforestation sector will be taken into account, as will those of youth-led organizations (associations), in order to recognize and incorporate their expertise and feedback into the design of the project and the tools developed.
• Training activities will be designed to be inclusive and accessible to all audiences, regardless of gender, age, or background, to ensure equitable adoption of the tools.