Advantages and disadvantages of afforestation

Advantages and disadvantages of afforestation

Afforestation is a process in which the land becomes forest. Usually Afforestation refers to planting trees in areas that have previously held forests. However, the trees are also often planted in deforested areas, a process sometimes known as reforestation. Thus, afforestation can be commercial or to replace previously lost forests.

The commercial forestry

Trees can be planted to provide firewood in the countries where they are used as fuel, or to provide timber and wood pulp, according to the Encyclopedia of Talk Talk. The advantage of afforestation in these cases is that it prevents existing forests, which host a variety of organisms and often are the important points of biodiversity, to be destroyed. So delicate ecosystems are not affected because new trees, which have been specifically planted for commercial purposes, are the only ones they cut.

Replacing the lost forests

Forest loss is a major global problem. Deforestation occurs usually in response to agriculture and logging operations, with an area of forest the size of Panama are lost each year, according to National Geographic. Deforestation has a negative effect on the environment, through the loss of large areas of habitat on the important points of biodiversity, such as the Amazon River basin, and through its impact on global emissions. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas associated with global warming, the fight against carbon dioxide emissions industries worldwide. However, with the greatest loss of forest areas, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is likely to increase. Therefore, the replanting of trees through reforestation practices can help reduce the impact of carbon dioxide emissions, and limit the total loss of habitat.

River management

Afforestation is often used as a management technique rivers. The trees are planted in the bare earth to stabilize the banks of rivers and soils. Trees also provide a new habitat for wildlife and help prevent surface runoff through greater rainfall interception before reaching the river. Afforestation is an advantage as a management technique rivers, because it is relatively inexpensive and improve the environmental quality of the drainage basin, according to the website of the BBC Bitesize.

Disadvantages of afforestation

Despite the many benefits of afforestation, there are also disadvantages, often making controversial afforestation. In the UK, for example, afforestation is carried out in several areas to offset the loss of many of the ancient forests. However, new plantings usually consist simply of conifers, while forests have been lost usually contains a diverse mix of tree species. Therefore, there is a loss in biodiversity

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