Forests the Size of France Regrown Since 2000, Per Study

A new study has found that almost 59 million hectares of forests, an area the size of France, have been regrown since 2000. The study is a joint venture between World Wildlife Fund (WWF), BirdLife International, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and was published by Trillion Trees, a press release by WWF shared.

The forest area can store the equivalent of 5.9 gigatons of CO2, more than the annual emissions of the United States. Forest regrowth included planned restoration projects, responsible industry practices, and other factors.

“Deforestation is at the center of our climate crisis, and we must do everything we can to halt it,” said Josefina Braña Varela, vice president and deputy lead for forests at WWF. “In addition, the restoration of our natural forests will play an essential role in preserving these critical ecosystems. The analysis provides a positive outlook for natural regeneration—but this growth doesn’t happen without careful planning, increased investment and strong policies in place that lead to an increase in forest cover.”

Forest regeneration involves restoring woodland through minimal intervention, including planting native trees, fencing off livestock, and removing invasive plants. William Baldwin-Cantello of WWF shared that forest regeneration is often “cheaper, richer in carbon and better for biodiversity than actively planted forests”.

The study authors point out that “a lot of additional work lies ahead,” to continue Conservation efforts.

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