af·for·es·ta·tion
(ˌ)a-ˌfȯr-ə-ˈstā-shən 
ə-,
-ˌfär-
: the act or process of establishing a forest especially on land not previously forested
af·for·est
a-ˈfȯr-əst
ə-
ə-
-ˈfär-
-ed/-ing/-s
1
English law
: to convert into a forest (see forest sense 1)
2
: to establish forest cover on (as land not previously forested) compare reforest
Examples of afforestation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
But through afforestation, or adding trees to land that previously lacked forest cover, companies like New York-based s Chestnut Carbon intend to plant some 17 million trees on the 500,000 acres of southeast U.S. land the start-up has acquired in recent years.
—Xander Peters, Time, 30 July 2025
At that rate, afforestation offsets would cost the 200 largest fossil fuel companies around $10.8 trillion — or roughly 11% of global GDP, according to the study.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Rather than relying solely on afforestation, the Chinese government has begun focusing more on protecting existing vegetation, particularly grasslands and native shrublands that are naturally resilient to arid conditions.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for afforestation
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Noun
The second is Mission 102030, a decade-long afforestation and biodiversity enhancement campaign aimed at planting 10 million trees by 2030.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
But through afforestation, or adding trees to land that previously lacked forest cover, companies like New York-based s Chestnut Carbon intend to plant some 17 million trees on the 500,000 acres of southeast U.S. land the start-up has acquired in recent years.
—Xander Peters, Time, 30 July 2025
At that rate, afforestation offsets would cost the 200 largest fossil fuel companies around $10.8 trillion — or roughly 11% of global GDP, according to the study.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Rather than relying solely on afforestation, the Chinese government has begun focusing more on protecting existing vegetation, particularly grasslands and native shrublands that are naturally resilient to arid conditions.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for afforestation
Cite this Entry
“Afforestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afforestation. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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