The proposed Gold Standard’s Land Use & Forest Programme activity is the afforestation of 831.01 ha with South China native species, mainly Pinus massoniana Lamb. (Masson pine), located on degraded lands belonging to Youshan mountain, Nanxiong city, Guangdong province, China. The project aims to recover degraded areas to forest ecosystem, and to develop sustainable economic activities, as ‘turpentine’ production and improving the local community’s standard of living. Effects of long-term ecological afforestation project can bring ecological and social benefits to the local residents.