Essay about reforestation

Introduction

Reforestation is an operation that consists of restoring or creating forested areas or forests that have been cleared or cleared by various causes in the past (overexploitation, forest fire, overgrazing, war ...). Sometimes it is explicitly protected forests. Afforestation is afforestation on virgin lands of trees for a long time.

Forest plantations or forests that have been (re) created can have a number of benefits for ecosystems and as a whole, as well as for restored economic resources. They are also potentially carbon sinks (if they do not burn repeatedly). The notion of "reforestation" suggests a more ambitious goal in terms of area and ecological or landscape quality than that of reforestation. The objective is then generally to restore a forest-type ecosystem, thus reaching a significant enough area to justify the term "forest".

Natural reforestation Reforestation by natural regeneration can occur spontaneously, without humans, or be initiated by assisted regeneration. It is done in both cases by the dissemination of seeds and propagules; by natural expression of the seed bank of the soil or by inputs via the wind, water or animals (birds, wild boar, squirrel ...) in the case of natural regeneration stricto-sensu. The term "reforestation" more often describes man-made plantations than natural regeneration. It is also necessary to create the necessary conditions for germination (sufficient moisture, seed dormancy, and if necessary restoration of a pioneer stage, installation of soil restoration conditions and / or ecological resilience). Shoots or seedlings sometimes have to be protected from livestock (especially goats in sub-Saharan Africa), some wild herbivores or simply from a natural dynamic of adventitious vegetation that would favor herbaceous or some dense shrubs to the detriment of trees.

2. We will show the benefit of reforestation

A. Replanting is vital!

That's why the key to a healthy environment is the responsible and sustainable supply of this tremendous natural resource by reforesting what has just been cut. Wood plays the role of "carbon sink" that is to say, it absorbs co², the main cause of global warming, to release oxygen in the atmosphere. An asset particularly appreciated in the context of current global warming. At the time of slaughter, the accumulated carbon remains stored in the wood, whereas it is released if the wood rots on the spot or if it is incinerated: 1 m3 of solid wood implemented in the fixed construction 1 ton of CO2, therefore a house that uses 20 m3 of wood stores a little more than 20 tonnes of CO2.

Conversely, concrete is responsible for 10% of CO2 emissions in France.

In short, wood catches CO2, instead of emitting ... A 100% green choice?

Yes, but this ecological argument only holds if another tree is replanted, which is perfectly in line with the forest management policy of our society

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3. The consequence

The causes of deforestation can be cataclysmic. The successive storms of 1987 and 1999 that affected our territory caused the fall of thousands of cubic meters of trees. Cyclones, lava flows, volcanic eruptions, pyroclastic breakers and especially forest fires are other cataclysmic causes.

Other causes of deforestation are human. These causes are most often linked to overexploitation of the forest resource, either to increase arable or grazing land, or most often because wood is, in many countries, the only source of energy for people who use the forest. forests for heating and cooking food. All forests are affected by this form of overexploitation, even mangroves. But reforestation can also be the consequence of agricultural abandonment, particularly in our rich countries, when, in an attempt to control production quotas (cereals, milk, meat, etc.), the areas of agricultural land laid waste are substantially increased. and especially when substantial premiums encourage their cultivation. This is an essential reason why, during the last fifty years, we have seen, a little everywhere, emerge from the woods a few hectares of trees, of the same species ... introduced, preferably. Too often, reforestation is synonymous with regression. In less than 20 years, all the relics of riparian forests that could still be traveled along the Blavet valley disappeared in favor of poplars and worse, in favor of Normann fir trees intended to be cut for the sacrosanct Christmas tree ritual because, in order for these trees to flourish, not only has the riparian forest been razed, but the soil has been broken down and drained, making any restoration of the environment totally impossible. But can we talk about reforestation when we see the damage caused by killer monocultures of spruce, larch, Douglas, which leave desperately acidified soils or poplars on asphyxic soils previously smashed and drained. All these silvicultural practices result in the destruction, probably irreversibly, of sensitive micro-ecosystems and the disappearance of inherently valuable species. [pic 2]

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