diversity is a buzzword, it’s used so much, it’s just so important

Replanting trees after disaster is evidently necessary for the wellbeing of the environment, and for humans that interact with and rely on the forest. Reforesting must be done with a focus on building resilience into new plantations, to protect both trees and people from future effects of disaster.

One of the immediate ways of building resilience into damaged forests is through clearing the area. When felled trees are left to rot, they become breeding grounds for pests, such as bark beetles, which then infest and kill living trees. After the land is cleared, it might seem most sensible to plant trees straight away, to quickly reclaim what was lost by a fire or, replanting in the Amazon after forest fires or extensive human clearing is most effective when grasses are controlled and the area is protected to ensure natural reseeding. Future restoration efforts should use a combination of methods, first evaluating the potential for natural regeneration and then gradually eliminating barriers. However, in urban areas, this approach won’t work. Trees must be actively planted to ensure any forestation happens at all. But in planting programs after wildfires or hurricanes, where property has been destroyed, it’s still important not to jump in and plant straight away. says Petryk.