planting tree in hilly area
Reforestation is the process of planting trees in a forest where the number of trees has been decreasing.
Afforestation is when new trees are planted or seeds are sown in an area where there were no trees before, creating a new forest.
In today’s world, the rate at which trees grow naturally in forests is much slower than the rate at which trees in forests are being cut down for production. The increased demand for tree products has put pressure on forests resulting in deforestation.
Afforestation is helping alleviate the pressure on natural forests by providing an alternative source of tree products. It is mostly done for commercial purposes.
In the commercial world, the demand is usually high for a specific type of tree. Afforestation allows stakeholders to plant the type of trees in demand, promoting the fast propagation of specific types of trees. The introduction of new supply of trees, for instance, can help to stabilize the cottage industry resulting in stable prices and business reliability.
Protecting natural forests without providing alternative sources of tree products is very difficult and unsustainable. Besides, logging is more common in places where there are no alternative sources of tree products.
However, when commercial tree users have alternative sources of supply, they can support the administrative and policy efforts in protecting forests, resulting in more sustainable initiatives. Protecting natural forests also leads to other benefits that come with increased tree forest cover like preservation of catchments, wetlands, and riverside zones.
Planting trees in a barren land is on some occasions more beneficial than planting trees in a depleted or depleting forest. Planting trees in a depleted or recovering forests helps to restore the ecosystem of the area, but planting trees in a barren land helps to create a new ecosystem.
Most governments and institutions have used afforestation to help revert the arid and semi-arid areas to productive areas. It also helps improve the appearance of barren lands to picturesque areas.
An easy way to transform a barren land is by planting trees. Land with trees is more attractive and valuable than barren land. Whether one is seeking to develop or sell property, planting trees is a sure way of increasing the property’s value.
Planting trees in the land that was not previously productive ensures that the supply of essential products does not stop. Relying on natural forests can be highly unreliable. It is also not predictive due to government and environmental policies.
Forest harvesting is highly regulated. It is usually common for governments to put a ban on forest harvesting, which can be detrimental for a business that fully relies on forest supplies. Afforestation provides people and businesses with reliable alternative sources of forest supplies.
For example, a company can easily and reliably project its annual sales and production when it has its own land of trees, unlike when it sources its products from natural forests.
Creating new forests also provide the community with fodder, fruits, firewood, and other valuable resources necessary for humans. In addition to making the resources available, afforestation also ensures that the resources are sustainable for the future.
Soil erosion is a common problem in barren lands. Barren land is not the best place to be on a windy day. Barren lands experience strong winds that carry large particles of soil causing soil erosion while also negatively affecting air quality. A great example is the dust bowl that was highly associated with intensive farming and large tracts of barren lands.
Barren lands are also subject to flooding when it rains, resulting in the topsoil being transported to rivers and water sources in the area. Afforestation helps to address all the issues of soil erosion and barren land at the same time.
