Question

Extensive planting of trees to increase forest cover is called as
A. Afforestation
B. Deforestation
C. Social forestry
D. Agroforestry

Answer 1

Hint: Forest cover serves many important roles in the sustenance of life on earth. Forests are a part of natural cycles, source of many resources, and ecosystems for many species.

Complete answer:
Forests are a very important nature reserve and serve the following functions:
- Forests attract rain and this may explain the reason for frequent droughts in western Africa.
- Forests are a huge and dense cluster of dense plant and tree growth, they are an important factor in the oxygen cycle.
- Trees in a forest hold the soil together and prevent soil erosion due to rain and wind; they also help in nutrient cycling and thus keeping the soil healthy.

The need for planting trees extensively is due to the following reasons:
- Forests need human assistance to re-establish themselves due to environmental factors. Areas which were previously covered in a thick green cover turn into arid zones once the forest cover is destroyed, the land may become dry and inhospitable for the growth of new trees.
- Overgrazing livestock is a huge factor that causes loss of plant cover. Herds of animals such as goats and cows are usually left free to roam around in many areas to graze and feed, the huge number of animals can wipe out acres of land in one feeding session which is very slowly replenished.
- Over-harvesting of forest resources is another cause of deforestation, humans are dependent on the forest for a lot of resources eg. Wood, it takes years to grow and once cut down by humans in bulk will take years to replenish.

All of the above factors may lead to desertification and eventually the loss of topsoil; without soil, forests cannot grow

So, the correct answer is ‘Afforestation’.

Note: Afforestation is not to be confused with reforestation. Afforestation is the development of forests on lands that have not been forested for a long period or never were in the first place. Reforestation is the reestablishment of forests on lands that were previously forests but were recently removed or destroyed.