Afforestation

Afforestation is the establishment of forest cover on lands that have not contained tree cover for a long period or that have not been classified as forest. It typically involves planting trees, direct seeding, or facilitating natural regeneration on degraded or non-forested lands. Afforestation differs from reforestation, which restores forest cover on land that was temporarily cleared or degraded.

Approaches include monoculture planting, mixed-species planting, and restoration of native ecosystems. Techniques may include site preparation, erosion control, irrigation, and protection from grazing. Agroforestry integrates trees with crops or pasture on agricultural land.

Purpose and benefits include climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration and storage; soil stabilization; improved water regulation and reduced erosion; biodiversity enhancement when native species and diverse guilds are used; potential economic benefits from timber, fuelwood, and non-timber forest products; and rural development.

Challenges and considerations involve ecological suitability, risk of invasive or non-native species, competition with existing land uses, water use, risk of biodiversity loss if poorly planned; social and governance dimensions including land tenure, community participation, and long-term maintenance; financial costs and risk of failure; and the need for monitoring and adaptive management.

Global context sees afforestation as a key element of many national climate and land restoration strategies and international programs. Best practices emphasize native species, biodiversity, ecological processes, and local livelihoods.