Forest restoration: why planting trees is not enough

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Since the advent of agriculture, the human species has continued to encroach on forest areas. Over the last three centuries, no less than 1.5 billion hectares of forest have disappeared, equivalent to 37% of current forest cover or almost the area of ​​a country like Russia. Faced with this sad situation, many large-scale reforestation campaigns have emerged since the 19th century.

However, as Jake Robinson points out in his book Treewilding, this approach, although well-intentioned, can sometimes do more harm than good if it is not carried out with discernment. A finding that could be compared with that of wildlife rehabilitation.

Monoculture, a cure worse than the disease

One of the main criticisms of massive reforestation programs is their tendency to favor monoculture. By planting a single species of tree over vast areas, these initiatives create artificial forests, veritable deserts of biodiversity. Not only are these monocultures more vulnerable to diseases (fungi, insects or bacteria), which can be decimated in record time, but they also disrupt the delicate balance of local ecosystems.

In addition to the problems inherent in monoculture, the introduction of non-native species (plant species in an ecosystem where it was naturally absent) can have disastrous consequences. These “exotic” trees, chosen for their rapid growth or resistance, can become invasive, suffocating local flora and depriving wildlife of their natural habitats. Thus, what was supposed to be a solution turns into a new ecological problem.

The importance of local context and ancestral knowledge

To truly restore a forest, understanding the local context is one of the strongest pillars on which to rely. Each ecosystem is unique, shaped by millennia of interactions between soil, climate, flora and fauna. Forest policy expert Forrest Fleischman emphasizes the need to “grow” rather than simply “plant” trees. This approach requires a deep understanding of the species adapted to each region and their relationships with local communities and surrounding wildlife.

The ancestral knowledge of indigenous peoples plays a fundamental role in this process. These communities, who have depended on forests for their livelihoods for generations, have an intimate understanding of their ecosystems. Integrating this knowledge into restoration projects not only maximizes the chances of success, but also helps avoid the unjust displacement of populations in the name of combating climate change.

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Beyond planting: innovative approaches to restoration

True forest restoration therefore goes far beyond simply planting trees. Ambitious projects like the Great Green Wall in Africa or the Gondwana Link in Australia illustrate the complexity and scale required to truly regenerate ecosystems effectively.

The Great Green Wall, which aims to create a nearly 8,000 km tree belt across the Sahara, is not content with simply replanting trees. The goal is to restore an entire ecosystem, combating desertification and creating economic opportunities for local populations. Since 2007, millions of trees have already been planted, but unfortunately funding is running out to complete the project.

For its part, the Gondwana Link in Australia is adopting an approach of reconnection, connecting isolated forest fragments over a distance of 1,000 km to allow endangered species to circulate and strengthen their genetic diversity. Birds such as the Great Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus), the Pygmy Plover (Charadrius cucullatus) or plants such as the Corackerup marlock (Eucalyptus vesiculosa) would thus see their chances of survival increase.

New methods are emerging, such as ecoacoustics, which uses the sounds produced by organisms to assess the health of an ecosystem, offer new perspectives for monitoring and understanding the restoration process. Jake Robinson and his colleagues have discovered that forest regeneration is accompanied by an increase in soil biodiversity, creating a “hidden underground orchestra of life.”

Forest restoration is therefore an extremely complex challenge that requires a holistic approach. While tree planting remains an important tool, it must be part of a broader strategy that takes into account biodiversity, local ecosystems, and human communities. As Robinson points out, natural regeneration—letting a damaged forest repair itself—is often one of the best approaches to adopt. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, a forest can regenerate from the remains of its own destruction, if given the time and space to do so.

• For reforestation, monoculture tree planting can harm biodiversity and weaken ecosystems.
• Effective restoration requires understanding the local context and integrating ancestral knowledge.
• Innovative approaches such as ecoacoustics and natural regeneration offer new perspectives for forest restoration.

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