Meaning of Afforestation
Afforestation is a forest management practice that involves the cultivation of forest plantations in uncultivated area land. Similarly, afforestation can be defined as a deliberate effort by the government or private individuals to establish a forest in an area where forests originally have never been planted.
Forest plantations that have been deforested can be cultivated with trees to fill the already cut down or harvested trees. Desert areas that were not previously established can be covered by forests. The practice of planting trees in uncultivated land to replace the already harvested or destroyed trees is necessary or pivotal for the survival of biodiversity.
The uncultivated land coupled with the activities of man has increased the abundance of carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, and nitrogen oxide which are harmful or hazardous to man. However, the establishment of forests helps to reduce the impact of these chemicals on the environment.
Impact of forest impact of global warming on the environment can be minimized through afforestation. Afforestation plays a significant role in the ecosystem increasing the activities of wildlife, mitigating climate crises, purifying the atmosphere by absorbing harmful chemicals increasing soil fertility, and providing habitat for wildlife.
Afforestation can be done through taugya farming or the sole planting of trees with the intention of improvement of green cover. In this practice, the land thaisre not productive for the cultivation of arable crops can be used for afforestation sustain life in the environment. The effect of climate change and deforestation has led to desert encroachment and this has extended or spread to many Sahara and sub-Saharan countries. Afforestation can change an area that are desert to a vegetation area and the activities of ing organisms.
Importance of Forestation in the Ecosystem
The establishment of trees in areas where forests have never been established before is crucial for the sustainability of biodiversity and for reclaiming the environment from depletion. Some of the importance of afforestation are highlighted below.
Increase Biodiversity
The establishment of trees in new areas helps in the restoration of habitat to create room for living organisms to thrive. Forests plantation in the conservation of different species of plants and animals.
Diverse species of plants and animals that have lost their habitats or feel threatened in their habitat due the man’s activities such as deforestation, urbanization desertification) can easily move or relocate to the forested area to grow and reproduce hence increasing the activities or population of plant and animal species.
Forested areas adequately maintain and protect forest species from poaching, lumbering, and unauthorized movement which creates for species of living organisms.
Reduce the Impact of Climate Change
Forest trees absorb greenhouse gasses thereby purifying the atmosphere of the toxic gas. Carbon dioxide is an essential ingredient in photosynthesis. Green plant uses most of the atmospheric carbon thereby reducing the impact of climate change on the ecosystem.
Similarly, carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from the atmosphere by the forest tree and can eventually store this carbon within the trees for a long period of time. Afforestation drastically reduces the impact of toxic gases reducing global warming.
Improving Soil Erosion
the establishment of forest plantations helps to prevent soil erosion and reduce the negative impact of erosion on the environment. Wind, and water runoff, can be prevented through afforestation.
The roots of forest trees grow different types of roots which help to bind the soil particles together thereby preventing soil erosion. Water ruff and wind erosion make it difficult to carry out the topsoil in the forest.
Creeping plants and heavy roots of forest trees are strong anti-erosive forces that prevent the free flow of water ruff in the plantation in nature because their roots have the ability to keep soil in place.
Maintaining Soil Fertility
Afforestation prevents soil erosion and other environmental factors from having a negative impact on soil nutrient preservation. Environmental factors such as soil erosion, continuous cropping, and bush burning deplete soil fertility, which afforestation aims to prevent.
Leaves fall, and falling branches of trees decay to increase soil fertility. Once forest plantation forms canopy cover the soil becomes very cool and increases the activities of soil organisms.
Improve Water Quality and Retention
aerial root, creeping plants, and plant litter reduce water runoff and flow of sediments and pebbles into water bodies. The roots of forest Trees filter contaminants or pollutants to improve water quality.
Afforestation is necessary to prevent the erosion of contaminated water and prevent sediment from infiltrating into streams, water, and drinking water sources. The root of forest trees and creeping plants forms a strong net that helps to purify and improve water quality.
Reduce Desertification
Afforestation in the desert-encroached areas helps to increase vegetation and reduce desertification. Forest trees bear fruits, dry and dispersed to the areas where forests have never been, and germinate when the conditions are favorable.
Forest plantations developed appropriate canopy to provide shade and help modify the climate. Additionally, the forest trees protect the environment by reducing the impact of wind erosion and stabilizing the ecosystems therefore preventing desert from encroachment
Sources of Income
Matured forest trees in the forest plantations can be harvested, processed, and sold. These forest products may become a source of income or supplementary income for the forest owners.
Edible leaves such as hot leaves, tractor seat leaves, and more plants that grow along shady areas can be harvested for making food and rapping solid for food products locally. Additionally, edible fruit-bearing trees such as African oil bean trees, oil palm, bush mango, and more can primarily provide income to the forest owners thereby increasing their sources of income.
Carbon credits and sales of other forest resources can earn the farmers a lot of profit by investing in afforestation.
Maximum use of Unproductive Land
Unproductive land use for the cultivation of arable crops can be converted for the cultivation of forest trees. Land with low farm income value or abandoned farmland can be used for afforestation. Waterlog, stony, infertile, sloppy, and undulating land can be reclaimed for the cultivation of forest trees.
Serve as a Source of food
Edible forest products such as animals, fruits, and leaves can serve as sources of food for man and animals. Since the forest environment is cool and shady it becomes a home for animals which becomes a ground for harvesting leaves and hunting forest animals for food.
Different between Afforestation and Reforestation
Afforestation and reforestation are forest management practices aimed at creating a conducive environment for biodiversity. They are mistakenly used to mean the same thing by some authors, but in actual sense, the concepts varies respectively. Some noticeable differences between afforestation and reforestation are highlighted below.
Afforestation: afforestation refers to the conversion of uncultivated pieces of land that have ley followed for many years into forest plantation. It is deliberate a effort of man to create a brand new forest in an area where forests have been established. Depleted forests due to bushfires, draughts, and deforestation can be replanted so as to increase the population density of the forest tree. The process of replanting or supplying these damaged trees to increase the population of the forest tree is called reforestation.
Afforestation is aimed at converting bare soil or forest in bare land where a forest has never been established into a forest, While Reforestation aims to increase the number of trees by planting trees in a forest where the number of forest trees.
Advantages of Afforestation.
- Help put Land into productive use (i.e. land not good for the cultivation of arable crops can effectively used for growing forest crops)
- Increase biodiversity by serving as natural habitats for living organisms.
- It improves soil quality
- It decreases erodiblity of soil by water rug or wind
- It is used for aesthetic purposes.
- It helps to check desert encroachment
- The establishment of new forests helps to balance the ecosystem.
- It helps to purify the air and reduce pollution.
- Afforestation helps to mitigate climate change by sequesting carbon.
- Afforestation provides food for both plants and animals.
- Forest resource sourced from the forest plantation can serve as a source of income or supplementary to the forester
- Afforestation helps to protect the extinction of endangered species of plants and animals.
- Forest plantations help in the regulation of the water cycle.
Disadvantages of Afforestation
In spite of the numerous importance or benefits of afforestation in balancing the ecosystem, some noticeable disadvantages exist along these numerous importance of afforestation. Some of these merits and demerits of the afforestation are:
- It leads to the loss of sun-loving species of grass, which are useful in the environment. (i.e. losses of grassland)
- non-native species of plants and breeds of animals can be introduced leading to ecological imbalance
- Forest investment requires a significant amount of capital
- Poor management can lead to the destruction of forests trees by fire and wild animals.
- It takes about 4-6 years under intensive management to see meaningful results
Practical Calculation in Afforestation
In the forest plantation, Azadirachta indica seedlings were planted at 4m by 6m. After transplanting 8.4% of the transplanted seedlings were lost due to poor handling. Before the stage of maturity, another 5.6% were lost to wind storms.
- Calculate the number of Azadirachta indica require to plant 5 hectare of land
- Calculate the percentage of Azadirachta indicathat is lost to poor handling
- Calculate the number of teak stands left for harvesting.
The solution to the problem.
One hectare of land is 10,000square meter
The planting distance is 4m x 6m
Areas of the land are =10000sqm2/ 4mx6m
= 10000sqm2/24m
=416.7 azradical indica per hectare.
To plant to plant 5 hectares of land
We have =5×416.7
=2083.5
We need 2083.5 Azadirachta indica seedlings to plant 5 hectares of Azadirachta indica forest plantation.
(B) Percentage of Azadirachta indica that is lost to poor handling
We have: = Number of seeds lost due to poor handling/ percentage of seedings lost due to poor handling
=8.4%x 2083.5 seedings/ 100%
=175.0 azradical indica plant
Percentage of trees lost to wind storm
= 2083.5-175.0= 1912.5
= 1912.5
= 107.1
=107.1 azradical indica plant
(c)
The number of mature trees that remain for harvesting
Is =2083.5- 175.1 -107.1=1801Azadirachta indica stands?