4. Afforestation and reforestation

Deforestation causes climate changes, and there is also no seasonal rainfall. Due to this, many cities face water scarcity, and many lands become barren. Afforestation helps to create forests but is quite different from the natural forests.

 

The world is experiencing a great change in climate in recent years, and these changes are alarming. Afforestation protects the earth, which provides a solution for deforestation and global warming.

 

1. Afforestation helps animals and even indigenous humans to provide shelter and food source.

 

2. Afforestation increases the supply of oxygen and water vapour in the atmosphere (which helps in rainfall).

 

3. Planting of trees reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which controls air pollution, greenhouse gases and global warming.

  

4. Afforestation avoids desertification of land.

 

5. Barren land without vegetation experience strong winds and cause soil erosion. The topsoil is washed away during rain. Afforestation helps to grow tress that hold the topsoil with the humus along with the soil nutrients.

 

6. Afforestation provides us with fodder, fruits and other resources that are important to us.

 

7. Some of the industries needs specific types of trees. Afforestation grows particular types of trees required.

Reforestation and afforestation looks similar, but both are different. Reforestation is replanting trees in an area that had lost the forest cover. Reforestation aims to cover the forest again with plants through planting new trees.

 

The planted trees must generally be of the same species cut down from the forest during deforestation. Afforestation is growing forest in an area that had no trees or tree cover. Reforestation is a strategy that is effective against global warming and to protect species of animals.

 

 

Reforestation helps to re-establish the habitats that otherwise leads to destruction and degradation of habitat that cause endangerment of species. Reforestation can also take place naturally. If the deforested area is left without disturbance for some time, forest re-establishes itself by growth of trees. This is called natural reforestation. In natural reforestation, humans do not have any role.

1. Improves the air quality as the amount of carbon dioxide is reduced.

 

2. Effects of deforestation like global warming is reduced due to the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

 

3. Restores the loss of habitat and degradation and threat to the species.

 

4. Reverses the damage that was caused due to soil erosion. Revives watersheds that are essential aspects of environmental well-being.

 

5. Maintains water cycle of the area as the trees absorb moisture through roots and leaves. Transpiration process helps to restore the moisture of the atmosphere and maintains the temperature in the local environment.

 

Difference between reforestation and afforestation are summarized below:

 

 

Difference between reforestation and deforestation is also given below: