Forest Restoration and Reforestation

The first method, Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), is a cost-effective restoration method that facilitates the natural successional processes through enhancing productivity and the functions of degraded lands. This process is a growing field in restoration science that aims to overcome barriers regarding natural regeneration, such as soil degradation and competition with weedy species. The basic steps of ANR are to assess areas by checking soil quality, demarcating the area to prevent threats, removing invasive plants, regularly checking for growth, and conducting periodic weeding and protection as needed. According to Fao.org, some advantages of this process are the suitability for households, farms, and community-based restoration efforts due to its low infrastructure and capital investment. As ANR is significantly cheaper to implement and maintain, it is a very viable option for many local communities. However, some limiting factors could be the varying effectiveness, dependent on site conditions, as well as being extremely labor-intensive in the early stages. 

The second option is Active Tree Planting, used when forests are too degraded for natural recovery or when speed is a priority. The National Committee of the Netherlands reports that Active Tree planting involves collecting, growing, planting, and maintaining seeds from local species to preserve genetic diversity. In projects such as FPWC in Armenia, setting up a nursery and cultivating strong seedlings are shown to be crucial for higher survival rates, and planting a mix of pioneer and climax species can significantly speed up forest recovery. For example, the Funcacción Biodiversa Colombia took only 10 years, rather than 50, to recover a secondary forest to its climax state. Although this process requires much more time and financial investment, it has promising results, such as faster regeneration as well as local job creation.