Afforestation, as a human activity, is the deliberate establishment of forest stands on lands that have not recently been forested, typically through planned site preparation, selection of tree species, and controlled planting or seeding. It is implemented for purposes such as carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, hydrological regulation, timber production, and biodiversity enhancement within managed landscapes. Afforestation projects are characterized by anthropogenic decision-making regarding stand composition, spatial configuration, and silvicultural regimes, often embedded in policy frameworks for climate mitigation, land-use change management, or ecosystem restoration. This activity is distinct from natural succession and reforestation, which target previously forested areas that have been disturbed or cleared.
Africa's Great Green Wall project began as an ambitious plan to build a 15-kilometer-wide band of trees across the north of Africa. The African Union launched the project in 2007 with plans for the trees to extend for 6,000 ...
Environment
Oct 7, 2025
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An analysis of forest-based projects funded through the sale of carbon credits shows that 10% of them may have a net warming effect on the climate because of the way they alter Earth's albedo, or how much sunlight is reflected ...
Earth Sciences
Oct 7, 2025
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Planting trees is seen as a cornerstone of efforts to avert climate breakdown. But a major new study in Science finds their potential has been drastically overstated—and relying on forests to offset carbon emissions could ...
Environment
Sep 3, 2025
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The climate benefits of planting trees may have been greatly overestimated, but swift action could ensure reforestation meets its potential to curb dangerous emissions, new research has found.
Earth Sciences
Aug 31, 2025
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Forests protect against avalanches, but not every forest is equally effective. Thanks to almost 50 years of observations at the Stillberg afforestation site, SLF researchers have now gained insight into how the avalanche ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 28, 2025
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In a new study published in the journal Evolutionary Applications, scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Forest Research, present a detailed analysis of the genetic diversity and comparative tree health of young ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 27, 2025
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Agriculture is the largest cause of deforestation. So, it follows that forest expansion efforts would displace agriculture—but new research from Georgia Tech's School of Economics reports that that's not necessarily the case. ...
Ecology
Aug 25, 2025
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A new global analysis reveals a critical oversight in sustainable coffee and carbon-capture initiatives. These programs incentivize the planting of new trees yet fail to reward the preservation of mature shade trees in existing ...
Environment
Aug 19, 2025
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35
More trees will cool the climate and suppress fires, but mainly if planted in the tropics, according to a new UC Riverside study.
Earth Sciences
Aug 19, 2025
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22
A sweeping conservation plan identifies where Joshua trees may survive in a warmer future and plots out how to best protect that land.
Plants & Animals
Aug 18, 2025
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