IB Biology Topic D4.3.8 Afforestation, Forest Regeneration and Restoration of Peat-forming Wetlands Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Biology Topic D4.3.8 Afforestation, Forest Regeneration and Restoration of Peat-forming Wetlands Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Restoring ecosystems captures carbon: forests and peatlands are living carbon sinks

Afforestation, forest regeneration, and restoration of peat-forming wetlands are strategies that pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and lock it away for the long term.
Forests store carbon in biomass, while peatlands store it in waterlogged soil, so protecting and rebuilding both is central to climate change mitigation.

Definition

Carbon sequestration

Carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Afforestation builds new carbon sinks, but the wrong trees in the wrong place backfire

Afforestation is the planting of trees in areas where forests did not previously exist, creating new carbon sinks on treeless land.

Carbon sequestration: trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and store it in trunks, branches, and roots.
Soil improvement: tree roots stabilise soil, reducing erosion and enhancing nutrient cycling.
Biodiversity: new woodland can create habitats for wildlife and support ecosystem recovery.
Monocultures: planting a single species reduces biodiversity and increases vulnerability to pests and diseases.
Water availability: trees consume water, so planting them in arid regions can strain scarce local water resources.
Albedo effect: dark forests absorb more sunlight than snow or pale grassland, so afforestation at high latitudes can warm the climate rather than cool it.

Example

The Great Green Wall in Africa combats desertification by planting trees across the Sahel, sequestering carbon while supporting local communities.

Forest regeneration revives degraded forests instead of building new ones

Forest regeneration restores degraded forests, letting them regrow naturally or with management after logging, wildfire, or disease.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Restoring ecosystems captures carbon: forests and peatlands are living carbon sinks

Afforestation, forest regeneration, and restoration of peat-forming wetlands are strategies that pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and lock it away for the long term.
Forests store carbon in biomass, while peatlands store it in waterlogged soil, so protecting and rebuilding both is central to climate change mitigation.

Definition

Carbon sequestration

Carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Afforestation builds new carbon sinks, but the wrong trees in the wrong place backfire

Afforestation is the planting of trees in areas where forests did not previously exist, creating new carbon sinks on treeless land.

Carbon sequestration: trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and store it in trunks, branches, and roots.
Soil improvement: tree roots stabilise soil, reducing erosion and enhancing nutrient cycling.
Biodiversity: new woodland can create habitats for wildlife and support ecosystem recovery.
Monocultures: planting a single species reduces biodiversity and increases vulnerability to pests and diseases.
Water availability: trees consume water, so planting them in arid regions can strain scarce local water resources.
Albedo effect: dark forests absorb more sunlight than snow or pale grassland, so afforestation at high latitudes can warm the climate rather than cool it.

Example

The Great Green Wall in Africa combats desertification by planting trees across the Sahel, sequestering carbon while supporting local communities.

Forest regeneration revives degraded forests instead of building new ones

Forest regeneration restores degraded forests, letting them regrow naturally or with management after logging, wildfire, or disease.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

A - Unity and Diversity9 subtopics

B - Form and Function10 subtopics

C - Interaction and Interdependence9 subtopics

D - Continuity and Change12 subtopics

IB Biology Topic D4.3.8: Afforestation, Forest Regeneration and Restoration of Peat-forming Wetlands Notes

A - Unity and Diversity9 subtopics

B - Form and Function10 subtopics

C - Interaction and Interdependence9 subtopics

D - Continuity and Change12 subtopics

Restoring ecosystems captures carbon: forests and peatlands are living carbon sinks

Afforestation builds new carbon sinks, but the wrong trees in the wrong place backfire

Forest regeneration revives degraded forests instead of building new ones

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Restoring ecosystems captures carbon: forests and peatlands are living carbon sinks

Afforestation builds new carbon sinks, but the wrong trees in the wrong place backfire

Forest regeneration revives degraded forests instead of building new ones

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account