Watching Forests Grow: How Land Life’s Monitoring Builds Trust in Restoration

How we monitor

Three campaigns, one goal: thriving forests

Our monitoring follows a standard sequence of approaches or ‘campaigns’ designed to track a forest from the moment it’s planted through to the point where it can be measured for carbon storage. This system is already well established in geographies like Spain and the US, where it informs each project step by step.

In regions where we started planting more recently, such as Australia, we are adapting and refining monitoring processes to local conditions – with the first pilots and trials already completed and shaping how a standardised approach will be rolled out.

Across all geographies, each campaign is designed to answer the right set of questions at the right time, so we can make informed decisions and keep projects on track.

1. Planting Quality Monitoring (PQM)

Think of PQM as a quality inspection of the planted seedlings. Within two weeks of planting, our teams visit the site to check that contractors have followed the agreed design: correct species, correct density, correct planting technique. If something’s off, it can be fixed while planting is still underway. When replanting is complete, we perform a Replanting Quality Monitoring (RQM) check to ensure the replanting meets quality standards.

2. Seedling Survival Monitoring (SSM)

We conduct at least one, and often several, post-planting health checks between one and three years after the seedlings are planted. SSM measurements cover growth factors such as density rates and/or seedling mortality, height and condition, and whether interventions like replanting, pest protection and control, or soil treatments are needed. If replanting is required, the work is subsequently evaluated through Replanting Quality Monitoring (RQM), just as it is after the initial replanting.

The specific monitoring approach also differs by region – for example, in Australia, where line seeding is most common, the process is referred to as Acquittal Monitoring (AM). AM serves the same purpose as SSM but is tailored to projects established through direct seeding rather than seedlings.

3. Biomass Monitoring (BM)

Once trees have reached a minimum size (measured by stem diameter or height), they’re ready for the BM stage. BM quantifies the carbon stored in the restoration plantings. This is when predictions from our FastTrack carbon model are put to the test, and when data is gathered for third-party verification under standards like Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). It’s the step that turns growth into verified carbon credits.

Every campaign exists to answer one question: Is this project on track to deliver the outcomes we promised?

The three phases of monitoring

Every campaign follows the same three-phase structure:

Planning – We design the monitoring map, set the sampling intensity, and create the campaign’s questions, then upload to our exclusive Tree Monitoring app. This ensures we collect exactly the data we need, no more, no less.

Execution – Field teams navigate to each plot, mark the centre, measure all trees within the plot boundary, and log their findings in the app.

Analysis – Data is downloaded, checked for errors, and analysed in our monitoring dashboard. We calculate survival rates, growth rates, and – when relevant – biomass and carbon estimates.

This disciplined process means we can compare results across years, sites and regions, building a rich dataset that informs everything from contractor performance to species selection for future projects.

Technology in the field

Land Life’s monitoring is a physical, hands-on process, but it’s also highly tech-enabled. Every campaign is guided by three core tools:

Planning Phase:

Systematic Monitoring Map Layer – Before a campaign begins, our operations team creates a digital map of the planting site. We use this map to cover the area with statistically representative plots in a systematic grid, so that variation in slope, soil and microclimate is captured. These plots are where measurements will be taken – typically a circle or rectangle within which every tree is recorded.

Planting Monitoring Plan – Using our Monitoring Admin system, the operations manager or field supervisor coordinator creates a customised plan for each campaign. This defines the exact questions that will appear in the monitoring app during observations, tailored for campaign type, geography and planting method.

Execution Phase:

Monitoring App – Field supervisors use our proprietary app to navigate to each plot via GPS, record observations for every tree, and upload data directly to our central system. The app works offline, eliminating transcription errors common with pen-and-paper methods and enabling consistent data capture even at remote sites. Where available, observations are georeferenced, meaning you can later locate the precise coordinates of the recorded data, adding an important layer of spatial context for analysis.

The app’s questions are customised for each campaign, geography, and planting method. In Australia, for example, a survival survey might include the question, “Is there kangaroo damage?” whereas in Spain, that question would be irrelevant. This flexibility means every data point collected serves a specific purpose.

Linking back to carbon modelling

FastTrack, our carbon prediction model, sets the forecast for how much carbon a project should store over time in the design and planning phase of a restoration project. Monitoring is how we track reality against that forecast.

• Replanting Quality Monitoring (RQM) and Seedling Survival Monitoring (SSM) confirm that the right number of trees are alive and healthy, so the forest has the potential to meet its carbon target.
• Biomass Monitoring (BM) measures actual tree size and biomass, enabling us to calculate real carbon storage and verify it against projections.

Reporting with purpose

We communicate monitoring results in two primary formats, each tailored to different stakeholders and their specific needs.

The first is a technical monitoring report. Its main purpose is to summarise the data from a monitoring campaign in a way that can be easily communicated to contractors – for example, highlighting which areas need replanting, or where species have been planted incorrectly and in what numbers. These reports are detailed, data-heavy documents used internally and with contractors. They outline specific findings, provide prescriptive recommendations, and guide corrective actions on the ground.

The second is the Land Life SIA Dashboard, which gives clients a high-level view of project progress. It highlights milestones, trends, and key visuals, offering an accessible snapshot of how a forest is developing over time. For clients who want a deeper dive, full technical monitoring reports can also be shared upon request, providing the same granular detail available to our internal teams.

When biomass monitoring is due, results are audited by an independent third party. This verification process ensures our measurements of carbon storage, forest health, and growth are accurate, transparent, and aligned with internationally recognised scientific methods. This broad validation underpins everything from ecological reporting to carbon accounting, giving all stakeholders confidence in the results.

The trust dividend

As carbon markets evolve and nature grows as an asset class, transparency and robust data are becoming the defining factors in what it means to deliver high‑integrity natural climate solutions.

These qualities build trust through clear proof and measurable results. Land Life’s robust monitoring system is at the heart of that integrity, reassuring landowners, investors, and corporate partners that our forests are not just planted, but are thriving – and that the carbon gains we claim are grounded in rigorous, technology-enabled measurement that meets the highest scientific standards. In doing so, we ensure that reforestation stands out as a nature-based solution worthy of long-term investment.

Our combination of field expertise, tailored technology, and scientific rigour delivers:

Evidence, not estimates – Every claim is grounded in measured data and verifiable results.

Actionable insight – Timely information that drives real improvements on the ground.

Accountability – Clear, transparent processes and independent verification.

Monitoring is the unsung hero of restoration. It may not be the most visible part of our work, but it is one of the most important. It transforms a planting event into a living, resilient forest and thriving ecosystem, ensures our promises stand up to scrutiny, and gives our stakeholders the confidence that their trust is well placed.

Want to learn more about how Land Life uses technology to deliver high-quality, nature-based solutions?

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