CarbonCrop’s tools for forest restoration: Plan, track, deliver

In our last post, we dug into why forest restoration struggles to gain traction (despite having plenty of support). The biggest barrier? Coordination.

Restoration projects often stall not for lack of ambition, but because too much gets lost in admin. Here’s how CarbonCrop’s platform helps simplify the planning process, reduce friction, and turn good intentions into real progress - whether you’re managing five hectares or five hundred.

Restoration is complex, but it doesn’t have to be confusing

Every restoration project has moving parts: Set goals. Review options. Navigate regulations. Engage stakeholders. Secure funding. Complete the planting. Track the progress. Manage the forest as it grows. 

And it’s not a one-off thing. These steps repeat - across farms, sub-catchments, and entire regions - often with little alignment. 

But they’re deeply interconnected:

• One group’s trying to forecast nursery demand.

• Another needs visibility into planting timelines.

• A funder wants accurate costings and risk info.

• A landholder’s wondering if that steep gully is worth planting.

That’s a lot to coordinate. When each part lives in a different spreadsheet, inboxes, or folders, the coordination burden grows - and momentum slows.

Tools that work with you

CarbonCrop’s platform brings the key planning elements into one shared workspace. No more spreadsheets where only one person understands how it all fits together. No more scattered email chains. Just one clear map to plan, track, and deliver restoration work with confidence.

Here’s how it works:

1. See what’s happening on the ground

With built-in aerial imagery, land overlays, and erosion risk data, you can:

• Identify existing forest

• Flag high-erosion areas

• Spot land that’s suitable for planting or protection

You don’t need to be a GIS expert. Just point, click, and explore. It’s a shared visual language that helps everyone see the same picture - and stay on the same page.

2. Map what matters

Draw forest blocks directly on the map. For each block, you can:

• Set planting method, species mix, and cost per hectare

• Schedule planting by year

• Assign a status: draft, confirmed, or planted

• Track space planting specifications and cost estimates in one place

It’s more than just drawing lines on a map. It’s a way to move from ideas to action, backed by real numbers.

3. From tree to catchment

Whether you're restoring a single slope or coordinating a catchment-wide plan, the platform adapts.

You can:

• Filter by farm, catchment, or project type

• Track progress across time

• Monitor how your efforts stack up against big-picture goals

Local detail meets strategic overview - all in one place. 

Progress you can see in real time

One of the hardest parts of any restoration effort is staying on top of what’s been done, what’s coming next, and who’s responsible.

We put the platform to the test with a live demo on a steep, erosion-prone catchment. In 10 minutes, our team (playing the role of landholders) planned:

• 1,200 hectares of forest across nine farms

• Planting schedules from 2024 to 2031

• Species selection, methods, and costs

• Progress tracking toward a 20% restoration target on highly erodible land

No spreadsheets. No delays. Just clear, immediate visibility into what’s planned, what’s funded, and where support is still needed.

The beauty of the platform is not just its speed, but its structure. It keeps everyone in sync, from landholders and catchment groups to funders and planting crews.

Status tags like “draft”, “confirmed”, and “planted” make it easy to see what’s underway and what’s complete. It’s practical, adaptable, and built to keep restoration moving forward - season after season. Turning ideas into coordinated impact. 

So if you’re a:

• Landholder: See where planting makes the most impact, and what it’ll cost.

• Catchment group: Coordinate planting for maximum impact, track progress at a glance, and bring partners on board with robust reporting.

• Project partners: From nurseries to funders, work smarter with clear plans and shared context.

Because forest restoration doesn’t fail from a lack of ambition. It fails when the pieces can’t stay connected.

Ready to plan smarter?

Talk to us about how CarbonCrop’s platform can support your next forest restoration project - whether you’re just starting out or scaling up.