Turning degraded farmlands into healthy ecosystemsNear the Chinese city of Dingxi, this project increases forested areas on former barren land, including degraded farmland. Afforestation, reforestation and revegetation measures on an area of 49,060 hectares create a healthy habitat for native plant and animal species. This saves about 45,600,530 tonnes of CO2 during the project period.
As the area is severely affected by droughts, an irrigation system for the seedlings is essential. Therefore, water basins for rainwater as well as water from nearby rivers were constructed. The major benefit? The irrigation system has no negative impact on local water resources and residents are allowed to use the water to irrigate their own lands. The project has been very well received by the local population due to various positive aspects, including the improvement of a road, which eases the daily life of many people.
How does reforestation/afforestation/revegetation contribute to climate action?Forests are essential in our lives and are among the planet's most important carbon sinks. Besides providing habitats for wildlife, they filter the air, stabilise and protect soils, store water, and contribute to the balance of our climate. However, global forest areas have declined sharply in recent decades due to increasing settlements, agriculture, illegal logging, and raw material extraction. Afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation activities significantly increase a forest’s carbon storage capacity in both the biomass of the forest and in the soil. The storage capacity varies according to the tree species, age, and location. Experts distinguish these activities in the following way:
Afforestation converts non-forested areas into forest ones. Reforestation restores forest areas that have been damaged or deforested in the past. Revegetation increases the vegetation through planting trees, shrubs, or other plants.
