ScienceJuly 4, 2026

reforestation

/ˌriːˌfɔːrɪˈsteɪʃən/

Definition

The act of replanting areas of forest, often with a focus on selecting specific genetic seeds or tree varieties to ensure the new forest can survive changing environmental conditions.

Etymology

The word is formed from the prefix 're-' (again) combined with 'forest' and the suffix '-ation' (the process of). It evolved from the Old French 'forest' and the Latin 'forestis', originally referring to land outside of cultivation.

In the news

The article cites early research on reforestation to show how the concept of moving resilient seed sources emerged as a climate adaptation strategy as far back as 1992. This highlights how maintaining forest health now requires planning for future, warmer climates.

Science Notes: Assisted Migration and Climate Change

Read the full article ↗

Rockefeller Institute of Government

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