OpTIBES

OpTIBES integrates socio-economic research, ecology, and advanced monitoring. Participatory surveys, focus groups, market studies, and stakeholder workshops are used to identify livelihood priorities, cultural values, ecosystem service demands, and barriers to adopting native tree species. Ecosystem services are assessed through literature synthesis, expert judgement, and stakeholder-driven prioritisation. The field trials will evaluate the growth, survival, climate sensitivity, and management performance of selected native species across environmental gradients. Ground-based measurements are integrated with satellite and drone imagery, using machine-learning approaches to monitor tree vitality, biomass, species composition, and functional diversity at various scales. Findings will be synthesised into a multi-criteria species recommendation framework combining socio-economic relevance, ecosystem services, and ecological performance for practitioners, extension services, NGOs, and policymakers. Dissemination follows a science-with-society approach through participatory workshops, policy briefs, training materials, community outreach, and open-access publications. By engaging forestry and agricultural authorities, OpTIBES supports the uptake of scientific knowledge into policy-relevant guidance for biodiversity-positive, climate :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}