Afforestation is the process of establishing a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no recent tree cover. Many government and non-governmental organizations engage in afforestation programs to create forests and increase carbon capture, which is an increasingly sought-after method to fight climate concerns. Afforestation is mainly done for conservational and commercial purposes.
The process of afforestation begins with site selection, where several environmental factors of the site must be analyzed, including climate, soil, vegetation, and human activity. These factors will determine the quality of the site, what species of trees should be planted, and what planting method should be used. After the forest site has been assessed, the area must be prepared for planting, which can involve a variety of mechanical or manual methods.
Reforestation is a similar process to afforestation, but it refers to the establishment of trees in a forest where the number of trees has been decreasing. Deforestation or forest degradation can reduce a forests ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), destroy wildlife habitats, and contribute to the likelihood of flooding in certain areas. Reforestation and afforestation are two of the leading nature-based solutions for tackling the effects of climate change.
