Reforestation replants trees where forests were removed. It differs from afforestation, which plants trees where forests did not recently exist. Reforestation restores what was lost. The goal is to bring back the forest ecosystem: trees, undergrowth, wildlife, and the services they provide.

Methods vary. Some projects plant seedlings by hand. Others use drones to drop seed pods. Natural regeneration, where forests regrow on their own from nearby seed sources, is often cheaper and more biodiverse. A mix of approaches works best. The species chosen matter. Native trees support local wildlife. Fast-growing exotics may store carbon quickly but harm biodiversity.

Reforestation is not a substitute for protecting existing forests. A mature forest stores more carbon and supports more species than a young plantation. Cutting old growth to plant saplings is a net loss for decades. The priority should be keeping forests standing. Reforestation helps, but it cannot offset continued deforestation. The math only works if both happen together.

Key approaches

• Hand planting
• Drone seeding
• Natural regeneration
• Native species selection
• Community-managed projects