Landowners / Practitioners

Afforestation and reforestation are essential practices for restoring forest cover and improving landscape resilience and connectivity. For landowners, these actions determine the future character and value of their land, while for practitioners, they are critical to the overall success of their projects.
Afforestation means bringing back or introducing forests where there hasn’t grown any forest over longer periods of time. Reforestation means bringing back trees where canopy cover has been lost recently, e.g. due to disturbances but also any normal harvesting operation. For afforestation it is critical to carefully assess the current ecological value of the area to be restored not destroy for example a valuable grassland habitat. Also, afforestation decisions should consider the landscape situation as to optimise forest connectivity.

A crucial component of any reforestation or afforestation effort is the selection of tree species and seed sources, commonly referred to as provenances. These choices have direct implications for forest health, growth rates, resilience to pests and diseases, and the ability of forests to cope with changing environmental conditions. Selecting species and provenances is not simply a matter of planting what has grown well historically; it requires a forward-looking perspective that considers both current site conditions and projected future climates.

Traditionally, practitioners often relied on locally adapted species and seed sources or those that were historically successful in the surrounding landscape. While local adaptation remains important, climate change is altering temperature and precipitation patterns faster than many species can naturally migrate or adapt. Consequently, trees that thrive today may struggle to survive in the coming decades. This makes the selection of climate-resilient species and provenances a critical step in planning.

Modern tools and approaches, such as the Seed4Forest application, help practitioners evaluate the suitability of different species and provenances under projected climate conditions. These tools integrate climate models with ecological and growth data to predict which tree types are likely to perform best in the medium and long term. By using such guidance, landowners and forest managers can make informed choices that improve the success and sustainability of reforestation and afforestation efforts.

In addition to climate considerations, species and provenance selection should take into account site-specific factors such as soil type, moisture availability, topography, and existing vegetation. Mixed-species plantings can enhance resilience, reduce vulnerability to pests, and increase ecosystem services. Provenance selection also influences genetic diversity, which is important for adaptive capacity and long-term forest stability.

After disturbances, whether natural (storms, fires, pest outbreaks) or human-induced (large-scale felling or harvesting), replanting provides an opportunity to reassess species and provenance choices. Such events can act as a catalyst for strategic reforestation, allowing landowners and practitioners to establish forests better adapted to future conditions while maintaining ecological integrity and productivity.

Ultimately, careful planning and informed species and provenance selection are fundamental to achieving successful afforestation and reforestation. They ensure that forests are not only restored but are productive, resilient, and capable of providing ecosystem services for decades to come. By integrating knowledge of site conditions, climate projections, and genetic considerations, landowners and practitioners can make decisions that maximize ecological and economic benefits.