A variety of seedlings were used, including agroforestry trees and fruit trees, like avocado and papaya.

"Putting the right species, in the right places, for the right purposes is essential," says forestry expert Lars Graudal from the Kenya-based World Agroforestry Centre, which provides training to the local nurseries in Ethiopia that supply the GLI with seeds.

The GLI did come in for criticism for poor planning in its first year of operation.
Some farmers were only given one day's notice to attend sites and trees were planted in rocky and unsuitable conditions, according to a joint report by IIED and Ethiopia-based Echnoserve Consulting.

It said eucalyptus trees, for example, were "reportedly being planted in areas that could damage the environment".