The Realities of Reforestation

Global reforestation is one of the primary solutions used by countries, businesses, and local communities alike to boost carbon sequestration. Biological carbon sequestration is an important process through which carbon dioxide (the principal greenhouse gas contributing to climate change) is removed from the atmosphere and stored back in the natural environment. Trees, soils, and even waterways can store atmospheric carbon and are referred to as carbon sinks.

Currently, NASA estimates that forests are responsible for absorbing 30% of atmospheric carbon in plants and soil. In addition to their contribution towards stabilizing temperatures, forests are home to almost 80% of all plant and animal species and contribute to our societal and economic value chains.

Carbon sequestration is just one example of the ecosystem services provided by forest habitats. Ecosystem services are benefits to human society intentionally or unintentionally rendered by a health ecosystem. Examples of these benefits can include erosion control, flooding protection, habitat provision, mental health benefits, food, and raw material production in the form of timber and pulp. The wide suite of benefits offered by forests has made these ecosystems an integral part of the 2021–2030 UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (and the recipient of a $16 million USD pledge from COP27).

Reforestation is often pursued with the intention of aiding the environment or offsetting atmospheric pollution, but not all of these efforts have achieved positive gains. With time, research, and trial and error, we have learned many lessons that help us to design successful interventions. Now, we are not only able to help restore degraded forest ecosystems but we can support current and future conservation efforts. However, delivering on this pledge with the benefit of advanced knowledge requires a more complex approach to forest cultivation than one might expect.

Reforestation is just about planting trees, right?

Well, yes and no. Reforestation can be defined as the act of planting trees in an area that was once a forest, but in the interim has been degraded or destroyed. The step-by-step process for next generation reforestation requires a bit more forethought and labor.

Relevant questions that ReWorld and Proyecto Titi take into account before replanting can include:

• Are the trees we plant native to this forest?

• Are we planting more than one type of tree?

• How are we spacing our seedlings?

• How long until these trees reach maturity?

• Are we positive that the area we are planting on was once a forest?

Historically, some tree planting projects planted non-native species that grow quickly, such as eucalyptus or acacia. The faster a tree grows and reaches maturity, the shorter the timescale by which carbon sequestration can begin to occur. On average, it can take 10–20 years before new trees can make a significant impact.

Non-native species can be successful outside their home environments, but they also lack the natural control mechanisms to curb growth. Consequently, planting non-native trees can disrupt the existing ecosystems and negatively impact local flora and fauna.

Distance, diversity, and a confirmed land use baseline are all important considerations as well. Monoculture, or single-species forests, are vulnerable to disease and can degrade soils. Tree seedlings cannot be planted too close as they need space to grow, but can also benefit from being close to mature trees. With about half of all seedlings failing to reach maturity, proximity to mature trees has shown a statistical improvement in seedling survival.

Establishing that the designated area was actually once a forest is also imperative prior to beginning efforts. Confusion between deforested landscapes and ancient grasslands have led to a few incidences of accidental afforestation — a process through which new forests are created where there were none previously.

So what does next generation reforestation look like?

In order to be successful, the next generation of reforestation must:

• Integrate all of the previously stated complexities into planning stages.

• Revisit and update designated planting areas to quantify seedling success rates.

• Compensate for die-off, where newly planted or restored forests experience a significant decline in planted trees shortly after these efforts.

• Be mindful of the forest and periphery communities that rely on certain ecosystems for protection and provision.

Studies show that the Amazon is a high risk area for backtracking with re-clearing occurring within the decade for product or profit. In some cases, this reversal demolished up to 50% of recently planted areas. By understanding how and why resident communities use the forest, we can help to provide alternative means to a similar goal or raise awareness of sustainable practices.

For example, forests can be the main — and sometimes only — stream of income for locals. This income is often generated by removing resources such as food and timber at an interval that exceeds forest replenishment. Consequently, combating these drivers of deforestation is foundational for successful interventions. By creating new jobs that support and protect them rather than profit from their degradation is beneficial for long term success. The creation of jobs has the added benefit of stimulating the local economy and reframing the forest as a feature that does not have to be extractive to be of value.

Planting areas must be revisited and potentially replenished after the initial seeding. While proximity to mature trees can aid in seedling survival, still only about 64% of seedlings survive five years after planting. This percentage falls to under 50% when mature trees are not present. Including plans to revisit and support or replenish these sites a few years on will help forests to reach their full carbon sequestration potential.

Thorough planning extends forward as well as backward. Taking a comprehensive history and establishing a baseline before proceeding with plans can be key to success. This can include understanding site-specific data such as weather patterns, overall climate, native species, and soil chemistry. The better informed we are, the more effectively we can construct an intervention that will interweave with the landscape.

ReWorld and Proyecto Tití take this scientific, conservationist approach, plan accordingly, interact with local communities, and lead with considerations of species nativity and proven success.

How can you help support ReWorld’s efforts?

ReWorld and Proyecto Tití aim to protect the Santa Helena preserve in Columbia through reforestation. The deadline is approaching for us to purchase the entire Santa Helena Preserve before it becomes available to other consumers who may not share the same conservation priorities. By the end of 2023, we must raise $1.2M to purchase this land.

With transparent communication and the endorsement of scientists such as Dr. Jane Goodall, we hope that you can help us reach our goal to not only support conservation efforts, but to protect acreage that has already been reforested from habitat fragmentation that would harm the cotton-top tamarins and other endangered animals from commercial interests. If you are able, please spread the word or consider donating here.