Afforestation
Establishment of forest on land that has not recently been forested under the relevant definition.
Example
Planting trees may increase biomass carbon on suitable land.
The catch
Species, water demand and existing ecosystem value need assessment.
Related terms
Ecosystem, Biodiversity, Blue carbon, Carbon sink, Carbon stock, Deforestation
In more depth
Afforestation, explained.
Afforestation creates a new carbon sink, but the removal arrives slowly. Young trees take up little carbon at first, uptake climbs as the canopy fills and then levels off as the forest matures, so most of a planting scheme's benefit lies decades after its launch. The stored carbon stays exposed to fire, drought and pests for as long as the trees stand, which makes permanence a live question.
Location changes the sums. In snowy regions a dark canopy absorbs sunlight that open snow would have reflected, and the drop in albedo can offset part of the cooling. Planting on peat can dry it out and release stored carbon. Do not confuse the term with reforestation, which restores forest on land that held it more recently.