Biodiversity is not what wins elections,” said Paul Smith, Secretary-General of Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), at a recent webinar on Choosing between native and introduced tree species during tree planting. Presentations then explored cases for planting native species, followed by examples involving introduced tree species. “The convergence of planting native and introduced trees, of biodiversity and livelihoods, will depend on governments,” Smith indicated. Participants were also directed to an infobrief on choosing between native and introduced tree species that informed the webinar. “Tree seed systems that supply tree planting materials to growers are shaped by many actors – researchers, regulators, nurseries, farmers, investors, and communities – whose incentives often diverge.