5 Benefits of Reforestation Explained

Benefits of reforestation are; biodiversity preservation, hazard mitigation, soil conservation, air quality improvement, and economic growth.

This article discusses the benefits of reforestation, as follows;

 

 

1). Biodiversity Preservation (as one of the Benefits of Reforestation)

Reforestation affects biodiversity in a positive manner, by re-establishing forest habitats that support living organisms.

By recovering forests, reforestation is instrumental for preventing or reducing the risk of extinction of multiple species of plants and animals [4].

Reforestation also helps to create a dynamic ecosystem that encourages the coexistence of a variety of organisms. The trees and shrubs that grow in the course of reforestation, facilitate ecological changes that lead to increased rate of recycling, of nutrient, bioenergy and biomass.

Lastly, reforestation preserves and increases biodiversity by improving the general conditions of the environment, so that optimal growth and survival of species are supported.

Benefits of Reforestation: Biodiversity Preservation (Credit: Hanna5ilva 2014 .CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Benefits of Reforestation: Biodiversity Preservation (Credit: Hanna5ilva 2014 .CC BY-SA 4.0.)

 

2). Hazard Mitigation

Reforestation helps in hazard mitigation by increasing ecologic resilience within forests ecosystems and their environs [5].

Examples of hazards that can be mitigated by reforestation include climate change, erosion, flooding, and pollution. To mitigate these hazards, reforestation exploits the role of forest vegetation in addressing environmental degradation and enhancing sustainability.

Forests mitigate climate change by acting as effective carbon sinks, which consume carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis, as well as through carbon sequestration.

Being a greenhouse gas, the reduction of carbon emissions through reforestation can reduce the risk of meteorological natural disasters like heat waves and desertification.

 

3). Soil Conservation (as one of the Benefits of Reforestation)

Reforestation leads to soil conservation because of the ecological changes influenced by trees and shrubs in soil.

The effects of trees on soil conservation are generally positive, so that the rate at which soil is conserved, increases when trees are present [2].

There are multiple reasons why (or ways in which) reforestation conserves soil.

Tree roots can help increase resilience and resistance to erosion, by binding soil and rock fragments together securely.

The trees can act as cover crops that physically protect soil from erosion, and may facilitate the accumulation of plant and animal biomass that could increase soil organic carbon, and fertility.

Reforestation increases carbon sequestration rates, permeability, infiltration, and microbial activity. These effects all reduce the risk of soil degradation, thereby protecting the soil.

Benefits of Reforestation: Soil Conservation (Credit: Pacific Southwest Forest Service, USDA 2009 .CC BY 2.0.)
Benefits of Reforestation: Soil Conservation (Credit: Pacific Southwest Forest Service, USDA 2009 .CC BY 2.0.)

 

4). Air Quality Improvement

Reforestation improves air quality by intercepting or absorbing toxins, and utilizing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, for photosynthesis.

Forest vegetation can physically intercept insoluble air pollutants like particulate matter, thereby removing them from the atmosphere [1].

Toxins in air can also be absorbed by trees, through their stomata, in the course of metabolism.

These effects help control air pollution and optimize the quality of air within the environs.

 

5). Economic Growth (as one of the Benefits of Reforestation)

Reforestation can lead to economic growth through any of various avenues.

One of these is job creation.

Thousands of jobs are created in reforestation projects annually [3]. These jobs may span across various areas that include maintenance, supervision, consulting and labor.

Reforestation also encourages economic growth through its ties with sustainable agriculture.

Various reforestation projects involve agroforestry practices that boost agricultural productivity and help address socioeconomic problems like food insecurity.

Other ways in which reforestation positively affects the economy include; raw material supply, increase in tourist attraction, and public health improvement.

 

 

Conclusion

Benefits of reforestation are;

1. Biodiversity Preservation

2. Hazard Mitigation

3. Soil Conservation

4. Air Quality Improvement

5. Economic Growth

 

 

References

1). Bottalico, F.; Chirici, G.; Giannetti, F.; De Marco, A.; Nocentini, S.; Paoletti, E.; Salbitano, F.; Sanesi, G.; Serenelli, C.; Travaglini, D. (2016). “Air Pollution Removal by Green Infrastructures and Urban Forests in the City of Florence.” Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia 8(8):243-251. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaspro.2016.02.099. (Accessed 27 November 2022).

2). Habumugisha, V.; Mourad, K. A.; Hashakimana, L. (2019). “The Effects of Trees on Soil Chemistry.” Current Environmental Engineering 06. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2174/2212717806666181218141807. (Accessed 27 November 2022).

3). Nair, C. T. S.; Rutt, R. L. (2009). “Creating forestry jobs to boost the economy and build a green future.” Available at: https://www.fao.org/3/i1025e/i1025e02.htm. (Accessed 27 November 2022).

4). Newmark, W. D.; Jenkins, C. N.; Pimm, S. L.; Mcneally, P. B.; Halley, J. M. (2017). “Targeted habitat restoration can reduce extinction rates in fragmented forests.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114(36). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1705834114. (Accessed 27 November 2022).

5). Young, C.; Soto, D.; Bahri, T.; Brown, D. (2012). “Building resilience for adaptation to climate change in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.” Building resilience for adaptation to climate change in the agriculture sector (pp.346) FAO OECD. Available at: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Building-resilience-for-adaptation-to-climate-Braatz-Meybeck/ba8430b6d213aec1ec29aeada68bb5c144670fc4. (Accessed 27 November 2022).

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