Categories of actors involved in tree planting by multinational corporations based in France, Switzerland and the UK

An increasing number of businesses is funding tree planting. Several intermediaries intervene between the funding company and those planting trees, each playing a specific role. To ensure quality tree planting, intervention and leverage points need to be identified. We aim to understand the chain between the corporations that finance tree planting and those planting trees. We reviewed 61 multinational companies from France, Switzerland and the UK, involved in tree planting, and identified the partners with whom they work to attempt to characterise this chain. Our results show that there are at least eight different functions starting with the multinational company, then financiers, regulators, quality controllers, enablers, project developers, brokers and finally, implementers. Most corporations mobilise three to four actors or levels to carry out tree planting. The multiplicity of actors is both positive (e.g., quality assurance) and negative (e.g., adds costs). Growing pressure for corporations to demonstrate social and environmental responsibility signifies that more tree planting is likely. Yet, many challenges exist in this sector, which we aim to describe. Critical challenges we identify include transparency, equity and quality. In conclusion, this booming multilayer sector should be better structured; understanding the actors and their respective roles provides a first step in this direction.