Practice question

Afforestation establishes tree cover on land that has long been non-forested or substantially degraded, and it can help restore forest functions such as carbon storage, erosion control, water regulation, habitat provision, and microclimate moderation. Closely related reforestation restores trees to recently cleared forest land; the two terms are sometimes distinguished in forestry statistics. Successful ecological restoration requires more than planting any trees. Native species, appropriate genetic sources, soil condition, hydrology, fire regime, landscape connectivity, and the needs of local communities determine whether a resilient forest develops. Diverse natural regeneration may outperform a single-species plantation for biodiversity and long-term stability. Deforestation removes forest cover, urbanization converts land to built surfaces, and desertification degrades dryland productivity, so none represents a restorative process. By adding woody vegetation and enabling succession, afforestation can rebuild biomass and facilitate colonization by other organisms. However, planting trees in natural grasslands or peatlands can damage native ecosystems and carbon stores. The term applies when establishment is ecologically suitable for the site and directed toward recovering tree-dominated land functions.