“Live staking” – planting tree clippings that will become full-grown trees to restore an eroded river bank in Tennessee (Source: Tennessee Wholesale Nursery)

When I envision addressing climate change, like many of you, I picture planting trees. Planting trees became a theme in my college years. In North Carolina, we planted hundreds of “live stakes”, or tree clippings, along eroded river banks. From these eroded river banks in North Carolina to deforested fjords in Iceland and mined mountain tops in Haiti, I’ve seen first hand the need for reforestation around the world. 

Even President Donald Trump thinks it’s a good idea. He initiated the Trillion Trees Initiative global coalition ー including the World Wildlife Foundation, BirdLife and the Wildlife Conservation Society ー seeking to protect and regrow 1 trillion trees by 2050. The Bonn Challenge is another global goal-setting initiative with 61 countries pledging to restore 350 million hectares of forest by 2030.

Because trees absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, many see them as nature’s allies in the fight against climate change. But that is not always the case. While there are numerous benefits to planting trees, there are both right and wrong approaches to planting. When ill-informed planting occurs, it can cause more problems than solutions. 

Black locust reforested hills in Loess Plateau, China (Source: The Conversation)

Take China for example. With help from online shopping company giants, Alibaba and Alipay, the Chinese state government pledged to increase forest cover 42% by 2050. One initiative was a  top-down reforestation project that planted black locust trees in the Loess Plateau. They cultivated black locust plantations in natural grasslands to prevent soil erosion and desertification. But they did not foresee that the black locust trees would suck up 92% of annual rainfall and leave only 8% for human consumption. This led to a decrease in cropland and a lack of clean water runoff into the Yellow River Basin, hindering access to a safe water source many communities rely on. 

In contrast, Costa Rica offers a story of hope. The country was once covered by 75% rainforest, but pasture-driven deforestation decreased forest cover by 35-50%. To address this loss, it became illegal to cut trees without government approval in 1996. A year later, the government introduced Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) ー a program funded by taxes on fossil fuels. PES rewards farmers who contribute to sustainable forestry and environmental protection. Pedro Garcia is one such farmer committed to a life of ecological investment. To combat deforestation, he converted part of his cattle pasture into a densely forested wildlife haven to provide shelter for native species of flora and fauna. Ecotourism is now an important supplemental income that increases the economic value of preserving such habitats. Since the government intervention, nearly 60% of Costa Rica is covered in forests again. This much progress would have been more difficult without people willing to take individual accountability. When government action is focused on a micro scale reforestation can be effective.

Agroforestry in Costa Rica – from forest to rice field back to forest (Source: World Economic Forum)

Another alternative to large-scale reforestation is agroforestry. By planting trees and crops together, farmers create economic and environmental opportunities for their land. Aldo Sánchez is another Costa Rican farmer and he plants banana trees that provide shade for his cacao plants. Within three years, he transformed his land from barren cattle pasture to a luscious green sustainable growing environment. Small-scale action by individual farmers has been instrumental to revitalizing the forests of Costa Rica that were destroyed in the early 20th Century for coffee and sugar cane plantations. Persistent effort from farmers like Mr. Garcia and Mr. Sánchez has made all the difference.

China offers a cautionary tale. Planting conducted by non-community-based actors often lacks ongoing management. Because people from outside of the community endeavor to establish new forests, planting sites often lack ongoing management with poor monitoring of potential ecosystem imbalances like excess water absorption. Actors need to better understand the ecosystem, climate, and the composition of native tree species to minimize adverse outcomes. Looking to Costa Rica for guidance we see what is possible with smaller scale action. Proximity to the reforestation site facilitates a better understanding of the land, its history, and what does and does not work in the ecosystem. Local initiatives, natural reforestation after land abandonment, and agroforestry are promising smaller-scale alternatives that counter the top-down narrative. After cropland abandonment in Puerto Rico and Spain, native vegetation and tree populations successfully regenerated on their own. Contrarily, agroforestry can successfully revitalize forested landscapes by balancing reforestation with crops, rather than in the absence of farming. Ultimately, whether it is individual, local, or country-wide action, reforestation must be specific and small-scale.