What is the act of putting trees back where they once were called?

The act of putting trees back where they once were is referred to as reforestation. This process involves planting trees in an area where forest cover has been lost, primarily due to deforestation, natural disasters, or other disruptions. Reforestation aims to restore the ecosystem by replenishing trees that play crucial roles in carbon sequestration, habitat provision for wildlife, and stabilization of soil.

In contrast, afforestation involves planting trees in areas that were not previously forested, thus creating new forested areas. Deforestation is the opposite of reforestation, as it refers to the clearing or removal of forests or tree cover for alternative uses, such as agriculture or urban development. Reclamation, while related to land restoration, typically focuses on rehabilitating land that has been disturbed, such as mining sites or degraded land, and doesn’t specifically imply the re-establishment of trees in former forested areas.