Afforestation
Afforestation is the practice of creating new forests by planting trees in areas that were not previously forested. Land degraded by desertification, disused industrial zones, and abandoned agricultural fields are all suitable for afforestation projects.
Proven, scalable, and low-cost solution that has the opportunity to restore degraded ecologies.
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What is afforestation?
Afforestation is a forward-thinking, scalable solution harnessing the natural power of trees to combat climate change. By creating new forests in areas previously without tree cover, afforestation significantly boosts carbon sequestration. Afforestation projects require careful planning using native species on degraded land, to maximise ecosystem benefits and avoid contributing to further biodiversity loss.
Different types of forestation
There are three main types of forestation approaches: reforestation, agroforestry, and afforestation. Each approach involves planting new trees, but they differ slightly in their implementation. We explain these differences below.
Reforestation
Reforestation involves replanting or naturally regenerating trees in areas that have been affected by natural disasters such as wildfires or droughts, as well as man-made disturbances like logging, mining, and agricultural clearing.
Agroforestry
Agroforestry is the intentional incorporation of trees and shrubs into agriculture. The two most common approaches to this are growing crops (silvo-arable) or pasture for consumption by animals (silvo-pastoral) beneath and in between trees.
Afforestation
Afforestation is the practice of creating new forests by introducing trees to previously non-forested areas. Land lost to desertification, disused agricultural and industrial areas, and land degraded from overgrazing is all suitable for afforestation projects.
How it works
Photosynthesis
Afforestation captures carbon through the natural processes of photosynthesis. Trees absorb water from the soil and CO₂ from the atmosphere. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll and energy from sunlight are converted into oxygen and glucose. The oxygen is released into the air, while the glucose nourishes the trees.
How forests store carbon
After photosynthesis, glucose is used to build the tree's biomass, including its wood, branches, roots, and leaves. This tree biomass is approximately composed of 50% carbon, serving as a significant carbon storage system that holds the carbon until the tree decomposes or burns.
Factors influencing carbon storage in trees
The carbon storage capacity of a tree varies depending on factors such as species, age, climatic conditions, wood density, and soil quality. For instance, tropical afforestation projects tend to sequester carbon more rapidly than temperate or boreal projects due to year-round growing conditions.
New forests can potentially sequester large amounts of carbon over long periods, supporting long-term climate goals. Afforestation also creates new habitats in areas that lacked forest cover, enhancing biodiversity in areas that were previously degraded ecosystems. Meanwhile, it provides a range of ecosystem services, such as soil health improvement, erosion control, and water regulation.
As a scalable and cost-effective solution, afforestation increases global carbon storage capacity while restoring land not traditionally used for forestry. However, it is important to note that natural ecosystems, such as grasslands and wetlands, have their own ecological value and should be conserved rather than afforested.
The long-term success for afforestation relies on thoughtful planning, ongoing monitoring, and meaningful community engagement.
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Afforestation utilises land where forests did not previously exist to optimise the use of the land, remove CO₂, and do so at a relatively low cost. As with other forestry methods, it can have lower permanence and a higher risk of reversal, as trees are temporary carbon storage vessels that are subject to impacts like disease and fire if not managed properly.
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Afforestation improves air and water quality, stabilises soils, and provides numerous ecosystem services, contributing to human well-being and environmental health. Planting forests in new areas can result in improved habitat connectivity and net-biodiversity gain.
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Afforestation: why use this method
New forests can potentially sequester large amounts of carbon over long periods, supporting long-term climate goals.
Afforestation can create new habitats in areas that lacked forest cover, enhancing biodiversity in areas that were previously degraded ecosystems. It also provides offers a range of ecosystem services, such as soil health improvement, erosion control, and water regulation.
As a scalable and cost-effective solution, afforestation increases global carbon storage capacity while restoring land not traditionally used for forestry. However, long-term success requires careful planning, monitoring, and community involvement.
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