Forests stand proud throughout our world. Certainly, everyone has a forest that is familiar to them, whether it be by dog walks or sunny Sunday strolls. Or perhaps you know one of the world’s famous forests through a childhood geography lesson or even a David Attenborough documentary. Choose it and imagine you are standing in the middle of it. Around you, trees reach high in the sky, and the birds are singing. The leaves hum like wind chimes on a windowsill. As time passes, the forest begins to disappear. The trees are felled, the birds stop singing, and there are no more leaves to be strummed by the wind. Suddenly, before you know it, you’re standing in a plain field with crops growing and farm machines ploughing the land.
The images I present before you are real experiences for those who call the world’s forests home. Humans, animals, flora and fauna alike witness this destruction first-hand every moment. Not only does deforestation destroy habitats and homelands or cause the death of centuries-old trees, but it also contributes overwhelmingly to the climate crisis.
The Loss of Forests
The impacts of deforestation have been widely detailed. It is a sobering thought to know that people have been fighting the destruction of forests for generations. Now, deforestation is continuing at an alarming rate. Between 2010 and 2020, the world lost 4.7 million hectares of forests per year. The culprits of this destruction are motivated by the creation of agricultural land for commodities such as cattle, palm oil, and soy.
Some of the highest levels of deforestation occur within the Amazon Rainforest. Over 2500 species of tree live within the rainforest, holding over 150 billion tonnes of carbon in their ancient roots. It is a lifeline, a natural ventilator, and shelter for over 3 million species of animals and around 30 million people. An area as large as this is a perfect indicator of the dangers of deforestation. The rainforest is an extremely significant carbon sink – an area of land which stores far more carbon than is released. As that area of land reduces, the carbon stored within the forest is released back into the atmosphere, simultaneously minimizing the very thing that absorbs our carbon emissions.
This process puts the planet under immense stress. This doesn’t even begin to detail the loss of biodiversity, the death of people, or the shady profiteering of land loss from foreign investors. Yet, the fight against the loss of our land remains. Since the felling of the first tree to fuel industry, environmentalists have sought to fight back and find solutions to the plague of deforestation through afforestation.
Afforestation Efforts
Afforestation is a widespread goal to expand forests and plant greenery. In 2018, the UN climate panel released a report addressing afforestation, stating that the world could mitigate the growing crisis by adding 1 billion hectares of forest. Environmentalists have commented that this goal is within our reach, with the viable creation of 0.9 billion hectares available without impeding upon existing urban areas.
Organisations around the world have aimed to contribute to the goals of regrowth. In India, the Green India Mission has been successful in its efforts to increase forestry. Launched in 2014, the mission has aimed to increase forest cover by 5 million hectares and improve the quality of already existing trees within the country. Between 2019 and 2023, forest cover increased from 19.53% to 21.17%. The mission presents a significant success in terms of afforestation.
The UK has seen efforts to regrow ancient woodlands that have been lost unnaturally through the years. In 2022, the UK government set aside £12 million for the restoration of forests, intending to capture 100,000 tonnes of carbon. More recently, the government announced it would be funding the creation of the first new forest to be planted within the UK in over 30 years. The new Western Forest would include 20 million new trees and 2500 hectares of woodland.
Afforestation has also occurred within Brazil to reverse the shrinking Amazon. The São Nicolau Farm is a project in the state of Mato Grosso, where around 50 species of trees were planted to revitalise the area. Through reforesting 2000 hectares of land, pollinating species began to reappear, and animals that had been lost were seen returning. Carbon also began to be captured at a higher rate – a wonderful achievement indeed.
The Monoculture Forest
While honourable, the goals of afforestation must be managed to ensure the efforts are truly sustainable. Instead of planting a diverse array of species cultivated with care and time, the same species will be planted repetitively. Monoculture planting entails the growth of a fast-growing species in a regular pattern. This planting requires cheap labour and cheap management, creating a drab and repetitive landscape. Further, the introduction of exotic species for economic growth is common. The Green India Mission has succeeded in the goal of restoration, yet has simultaneously introduced exotic species such as acacia or eucalyptus for sale.
Monocultures should be avoided, yet many seemingly sustainable groups sow their soil with the same species. Within the UK, forests that once held a colourful array of species now stand tall with monotonous trees. Walk through parts of Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk, and you’ll be greeted by rows upon rows of conifers climbing toward the sun. Whilst stating aims for diversity, the plans for the aforementioned Western Forest have not revealed what species will be included.
In such cases, differentiation of species is minimised, soil health is put at risk and habitats are lost at an alarming rate. Not to mention, one disease could result in an entire monoculture forest being wiped out by a fungus. Real afforestation efforts can exist but must maintain a wonderful array of species that come with nature’s beautiful diversity.
A Look To China
If you stepped back in time, the Mu Us Desert in Northwest China would have been dry land. Nothing would have grown except common desert plants. Today, pictures of the Mu Us desert would show you green grasslands stretching across the once desolate area. The transformation is one of the greatest replanting efforts that countries should look to for inspiration.
Yin Yhuzan, a Chinese environmentalist, began studying tree species that could retain soil structure to combat the growing desert. In order to combat the growing desert, Yhuzan studied trees that could help maintain soil structure. Soon after, the landscape was filled with poplars and pines. Though approved by the Chinese government, Yhuzan maintains the project as localised and self-planned. As of 2024, over 4500 hectares of land have been transformed from desert to green area, with 75% of the land rehabilitated. Sandstorms have reduced, vegetation has thrived, and life has persisted.
Whilst the motivation was not to combat deforestation but to stop the growing desert, the lessons here are paramount. In trusting community knowledge, China has undeniably gained a sustainable movement that has transformed an entire area.
The Way Forward
Replanting and nurturing lost greenery is essential to fighting the climate crisis. Equally, planning must prioritise planting diverse woodlands, spearheaded by those who know the land. The Borneo Project has replanted over 4 million hectares of diverse land with a large protection of the orangutan population. Further, the 10-year plan includes the movement to return land rights to Indingous peoples to help lead the reforestation effort. This is truly a sustainable effort that seeks to restore forests as both a carbon sink and also as the home of thriving communities and species. In allowing communities to lead the way forward, our land can be cultivated to stop the damaging effects of the climate crisis.
To achieve a sustainable afforestation effort, there must be a combination of localised knowledge and patience. Cheap, quick and easy monocultures must be entirely ruled out, and those which are already in place must be quickly diversified. Soon, this planet can be filled with diverse woodlands, protecting the homelands of people, plants and animals.
Be Curious:
- To know more about the impacts of afforestation, try out Lucy Jones’s book, Losing Eden.
- To learn about more carbon sinks, read a Curious.Earth feature on peats and bogs here!
- Try to find replanting areas in your area through websites such as the RHS or Good to Grow.
Photo by MonikaP via Pixabay.
