afforestation

noun

af·​for·​es·​ta·​tion (ˌ)a-ˌfȯr-ə-ˈstā-shən How to pronounce afforestation (audio)
ə-,
-ˌfär-
: the act or process of establishing a forest especially on land not previously forested
afforest
a-ˈfȯr-əst How to pronounce afforestation (audio)
-ˈfär-
transitive verb

Examples of afforestation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin afforestātiōn-, afforestātiō, from afforestāre "to convert into a forest" (from Latin ad- ad- + verbal derivative of Late Latin forestis "unenclosed woodland, forest entry 1") + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of afforestation was in 1598

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Cite this Entry

“Afforestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afforestation. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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