NEWS

Update 35: Alternative planting methods for forest restoration

We launched a new project to evaluate alternative planting methods using 1-year-old saplings, seeds, and seed balls, aiming to find more efficient, cost-effective ways to restore forests in Albania.

The methods of forest restoration currently used in Albania are outdated and, as a result, neither optimal nor cost-effective. There is a need for evidence-based trials that would provide the necessary data to challenge the current status quo and pressure national and regional institutions to update forest restoration standards to reflect and incorporate modern approaches.

The problem

In the past 5 years, we worked in Lurë-Dejës Mt. National Park , Dibër and Voskopojë, Korçë, following standard planting methods set by the National Forestry Agency or the National Agency of Protected Areas. These standards set out requirements for reforestation, including species, hole size, sapling age, planting patterns, and others.

Unfortunately, these standards and technical requirements, as well as the management plans, have not been updated for a significant time.

For example, the requirements for restoration in Lurë-Dejës Mt. National Park (protected area or municipality) in areas where we are permitted to work are:

While many of these requirements are well-intentioned, there are clear problems:

1. The main issue is planting a monoculture.
2. The second is the very expensive technology of planting.

The planting methods

1. 1-year-old saplings (March 2026)

The intensive planting method is used worldwide, especially in Scandinavia, the EU, and Canada. The primary advantage is the use of young planting material, which is cheaper to produce and easier to plant using various low-disturbance planting methods and tools.

Additionally, 1-year-old trees absorb nutrients and water faster than 2-year-olds, contributing to their faster growth and higher survival rates.

This planting method would allow us to save almost 50% of cost per hectare, which would make it very competitive against seed-ball based restoration approaches, while providing much easier monitoring, outcome evaluation and maintenance.

2. Seed-based restoration (2026-2027)

Seed planting has been a standard practice for hundreds of years and is a valid restoration method, especially when seed material is abundant. This, however, is not the case in Albania, where native seed production is limited.

We collect, process, and test all seed material we use, which enables us to implement this method effectively.

The main advantage is lower cost per hectare, as seeds are much cheaper than saplings. However, the main disadvantage is the lower survival rate, longer time required for trees to reach maturity and difficulty in monitoring and project evaluation.

3. Seed ball based restoration (2026-2027)

Seed balls have gained recent popularity (especially when used with airplanes or drones), despite been used in agriculture, gardening and ecosystem restoration sectors for millennia.

Often referred to as the Fukuoka method after Masanobu Fukuoka, this is misleading, as seed balls were just one aspect of Masanobu’s approach to restoration, and using seed balls does not completely implement his method.

The main advantage is lower cost per hectare. However the cost of seeds and seed ball production can be quite significant and considering the 1-year-old sapling planting method is already very cost-effective, the seed ball method would need to be significantly cheaper to be competitive. Additionally, the main disadvantage is the lower survival rate, longer time required for trees to reach maturity and difficulty in monitoring and project evaluation.

The methodology

With this project, we are evaluating the following planting methods for forest restoration in both Lurë and Voskopojë, compared with the current planting method, which serves as the control group.

1. 1-year-old containerised saplings planting
2. Seed based restoration
3. Seed ball-based restoration
4. 2-year-old sapling, large hole method as a control group

We established a 200 m² sample plot for each method (except 4) within planting areas in Lurë and Voskopojë. This means the same terrain, climate and weather patterns will affect both the control group and the test plots.

Each sample plot is restored with 200 individuals or seed balls (methods 1, 3), and method 2 includes 200 20x20 cm plots with seeds planted.

We are using 1-year-old Black pine saplings produced at the Fushë-Lurë tree nursery from seeds collected and processed in 2025 in Lurë. For the seeds and seed balls, we are using seeds from the 2026 seed collection.

Our control group consists of 2025 reforested areas in Lurë and Voskopojë, with survival rates determined using our standard methodology.

We focus on the following primary indicators:

• cost per restored hectare
• required number of planting material per hectare for the required occupancy rate
• survival rate after 1st year
• germination rate for each species

What’s next?

We began implementing the project using saplings and seeds we prepared for the 2026 season. The next step will be to monitor germination and survival rates throughout 2026, with results to be available in September 2026.