Forests provide immense benefits by removing carbon dioxide and pollution from the atmosphere, preventing soil erosion, filtering water, and serving as habitats for half of the world's species of land animals, plants, and insects. Afforestation and reforestation are two of the most effective nature-based solutions in the fight against climate change and mitigating its impacts.
Reforestation is the process of replanting trees in areas that were recently forested but lost their forests due to fires, drought, diseases, or human activities such as clearing for agriculture.
Afforestation is the process of planting trees in areas that have not been forested in recent history. Afforestation helps restore abandoned and degraded agricultural land, prevents desertification, creates carbon sinks, and generates new economic opportunities for local communities.