Conservation Strategies: Reforestation, Monoculture Plantation, Afforestation
Geography › Biogeography: Soils and Vegetation · Topic 7.10
Forest conservation strategies include reforestation, the replanting of trees on land that was recently forested; afforestation, planting trees on land that has not had forest for a long time; and plantations, which are often monocultures of a single species. Reforestation and afforestation increase tree cover and absorb carbon, but a monoculture plantation holds far less biodiversity and carbon than a natural forest and is vulnerable to pests and fire. Better strategies mix native species and involve local people. Global goals include the Bonn Challenge, which aims to restore 350 million hectares by 2030.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Geography · Biogeography: Soils and Vegetation
At a Glance
- Reforestation Replanting where forest was recently lost
- Afforestation Planting where there was no forest for long
- Monoculture One tree species planted
- Bonn Challenge 350 million hectares by 2030
- India’s target 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Geography: Biogeography: Soils and Vegetation
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the account of deforestation and sets out the ways to recover tree cover. It leads to the last topic of the macro, which covers the types of forestry, including social forestry, agroforestry and the Miyawaki method. Previous topic: Deforestation: Tropical and Temperate Forest Loss. Next topic: Types of Forestry: Social Forestry, Agro-Forestry, Miyawaki Method.
What Are Reforestation, Afforestation and Monoculture Plantation?
| Strategy | Meaning | Advantages | Concerns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reforestation | Replanting or natural regrowth of trees on land that was forest until recently | Restores habitat, soil and water; often uses native species and natural regeneration | Needs protection from grazing and fire; slow |
| Afforestation | Establishing forest on land that has had no forest for a long time, such as degraded land or grassland | Adds carbon sinks, checks desertification, gives timber and fuel | Planting trees in natural grasslands or wetlands can harm those ecosystems |
| Monoculture plantation | Large-scale planting of a single species, such as eucalyptus, teak, pine or oil palm | Fast growth, uniform timber, high yield for industry | Low biodiversity, use more water, poor soils, pest outbreaks, less carbon than natural forest |
| Mixed native planting and assisted regeneration | Planting of many local species or protecting natural regrowth | Closer to a natural forest; better for wildlife and resilience | Slower and needs knowledge of local species |
Natural regeneration, helped by protection, is often cheaper and more successful than planting.
What Are the Global Initiatives?
- Bonn Challenge (2011): a global goal to restore 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030. India pledged to restore 26 million hectares by 2030.
- Great Green Wall (2007): an African Union project to restore land across the Sahel, from Senegal to Djibouti, about 8,000 km. Progress has been slower than planned.
- China’s Three-North Shelterbelt (from 1978): a very large planting scheme against desertification in northern China, with debate on survival and water use.
- UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021 to 2030) and the Trillion Trees initiative.
What Has India Done?
- Van Mahotsav (1950): an annual tree-planting festival begun by K. M. Munshi, then the Union Agriculture Minister.
- National Forest Policy, 1988: set a goal of one-third of land under forest or tree cover, and two-thirds in hills.
- Joint Forest Management (1990): villagers share in the management and benefits of forest.
- Compensatory afforestation and CAMPA: when forest land is diverted for a project, the user must plant trees on other land and pay into the Compensatory Afforestation Fund, under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.
- National Mission for a Green India (2014): part of the climate plan, aiming to increase and improve forest cover on millions of hectares.
- Agroforestry and social forestry: described in Types of Forestry: Social Forestry, Agro-Forestry, Miyawaki Method.
The conservation issues relating to the forests of India are discussed in Conservation Issues Relating to Indian Natural Vegetation.
Why Is Monoculture a Problem and What Is the Better Way?
A plantation of one species looks green on a satellite map and counts as forest cover in statistics, but it is a poor substitute for a natural forest. Eucalyptus plantations, for example, can use large amounts of water and give little habitat. Uniform trees are easily destroyed by a single pest or disease or by fire. Planting trees in the wrong place, such as on natural grasslands or peatlands, can do more harm than good, and many planted trees die for lack of care. The better strategy is to protect existing forests first, since they are cheaper than planting; to let forests regenerate on their own where seed sources exist; to plant diverse native species; and to involve communities, giving them clear rights and benefits. As an analytical point, the aim should be the quality and survival of forests, not simply the number of trees planted, and this is why the loss of old forests described in Deforestation: Tropical and Temperate Forest Loss cannot be offset by new plantations.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Terms Reforestation versus afforestation
- Policy Indian missions and funds
- Debate Monoculture problems
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the types of forestry: social forestry, agroforestry and the Miyawaki method. Next topic: Types of Forestry: Social Forestry, Agro-Forestry, Miyawaki Method.
Key People and Terms
- Reforestation Replanting recently cleared forest
- Afforestation Planting where no forest existed
- Monoculture Single-species plantation
- CAMPA Compensatory afforestation fund authority
- Bonn Challenge Global restoration goal
- Assisted regeneration Helping natural regrowth
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Afforestation is on land with no recent forest.
- Bonn Challenge: 350 million hectares by 2030.
- India’s pledge: 26 million hectares.
- Van Mahotsav began in 1950.
- Monoculture has low biodiversity.
Do Not Confuse With
- Reforestation and afforestation Recently cleared versus long non-forest land
- Plantation and natural forest One species versus many
- Green India Mission and Bonn Challenge Indian mission versus global goal
Memory Hook
Re is again, af is a first; mix the species and the forest is blessed.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for the pros and cons of plantations and the Indian approach. These points add depth.
- Terms Reforest and afforest
- Quality Monoculture limits
- Policy CAMPA, Green India
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Distinguish between reforestation and afforestation and critically examine the role of monoculture plantations in forest conservation.”
How to Answer
- Define Both terms.
- Evaluate Monoculture limits.
- Policy Bonn Challenge, CAMPA.
- Better way Mixed native species.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between reforestation and afforestation?
Reforestation is the replanting or natural regrowth of trees on land that was forest until recently and has been cleared. Afforestation is the planting of trees on land that has not had a forest for a long time, such as degraded land or barren areas, with the aim of creating a new forest.
Why is a monoculture plantation a poor substitute for a natural forest?
A monoculture plantation has only one species, so it supports far less biodiversity, stores less carbon than a mature natural forest, may use a lot of water, and is more vulnerable to pests, disease and fire. It may count as forest cover in statistics, but it lacks the ecological richness of a natural forest.
What is the Bonn Challenge?
The Bonn Challenge is a global effort launched in 2011 to restore 150 million hectares of the world's deforested and degraded land by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030. India has pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 as its part.
What is the Great Green Wall?
The Great Green Wall is an African-led initiative, begun in 2007, to restore degraded land and fight desertification across the Sahel, from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east, along a belt of about 8,000 km. It combines tree planting with land restoration, and its progress has been slower than first planned.
What is compensatory afforestation?
Compensatory afforestation is the planting of trees on other land to make up for forest land that is diverted for non-forest uses such as mines or roads. In India it is required under the Forest Conservation Act, and the money paid by project owners is kept in the Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the 2016 law and used by CAMPA.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Afforestation means planting trees on land that has not been forest for a long time.
Reforestation is on recently cleared land.
2 The Bonn Challenge target for 2030 is 350 million hectares.
It is a global restoration goal.
3 Monoculture plantations have the same biodiversity as natural forests.
They support far less.
4 The Great Green Wall is a project in the Sahel region of Africa.
It runs from Senegal to Djibouti.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under Biogeography: Soils and Vegetation. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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