Reforestation
Reforestation is the practice of restoring previously existing forests and woodlands that have been destroyed or damaged. The prior forest destruction might have happened through deforestation, clearcutting or wildfires. Two important purposes of reforestation programs are for harvesting of wood or for climate change mitigation purposes. Reforestation can also help with ecosystem restoration. One method for reforestation is to establish tree plantations, also called plantation forests. They cover about 131 million ha worldwide, which is 3% of the global forest area and 45% of the total area of planted forests.[1]
This article is about natural or intentional restocking of former forests and woodlands. For the establishment of a forest in an area where there was no forest before, see Afforestation. For reforestation and afforestation together, see Forest management.
Globally, planted forests increased from 4.1% to 7.0% of the total forest area between 1990 and 2015.[2] Plantation forests made up 280 million ha (hectare) in 2015, an increase of about 40 million ha in the last ten years.[3] Globally, planted forests consist of about 18% exotic or introduced species while the rest are species native to the country where they are planted.
There are limitations and challenges with reforestation projects, especially if they are in the form of tree plantations. Firstly, there can be competition with other land uses and displacement risk. Secondly, tree plantations are often monocultures which comes with a set of disadvantages, for example biodiversity loss. Lastly, there is also the problem that stored carbon is released at some point.
The effects of reforestation and afforestation will be farther in the future than those of proforestation (the conservation of intact forests).[4] Instead of planting entirely new areas, it might be better to reconnect forested areas and restoring the edges of forest. This protects their mature core and makes them more resilient and longer-lasting.[5] It takes much longer − several decades − for the carbon sequestration benefits of reforestation to become similar to the those from mature trees in tropical forests. Therefore, reducing deforestation is usually more beneficial for climate change mitigation than reforestation.[6]
Many countries carry out reforestation programs. For example, in China, the Three Northern Protected Forest Development Program – informally known as the "Great Green Wall" – was launched in 1978 and scheduled to last until 2050. It aims to eventually plant nearly 90 million acres of new forest in a 2,800-mile stretch of northern China.[7]
Definition[edit]
Reforestation means the "conversion to forest of land that has previously contained forests but that has been converted to some other use".[8]: 1812
According to FAO terminology any type of reforestation activity does not contribute to an increase in forest area.
Whereas, the term afforestation means establishing new forest on lands that were not forest before (for example, abandoned agriculture).[9]
Methods[edit]
Forest plantations[edit]
Plantation forests cover about 131 million ha, which is 3 percent of the global forest area and 45 percent of the total area of planted forests.[1]
Over 90% of the world's forests regenerate organically, and more than half are covered by forest management plans or equivalents.[39][40]
Globally, planted forests increased from 4.1% to 7.0% of the total forest area between 1990 and 2015.[2] Plantation forests made up 280 million ha (hectare) in 2015, an increase of about 40 million ha in the last ten years.[3] Globally, planted forests consist of about 18% exotic or introduced species while the rest are species native to the country where they are planted.
Related concepts[edit]
A similar concept, afforestation, refers to the process of restoring and recreating areas of woodlands or forests that may have existed long ago but were deforested or otherwise removed at some point in the past or lacked it naturally (for example, natural grasslands). Sometimes the term "re-afforestation" is used to distinguish between the original forest cover and the later re-growth of forest to an area.[49] Special tools, for example, tree planting bars, are used to make planting of trees easier and faster.
Another alternative strategy, proforestation, is similar as it can be used to counteract the negative environmental and ecological effects of deforestation through growing an existing forest intact to its full ecological potential.[50]