Afforestation is the process of planting trees in an area where there was previously no forest. This can be done for a variety of reasons, including to combat climate change, to provide habitat for wildlife, to protect against soil erosion, or to provide timber or other resources. Afforestation can be a useful tool for mitigating the impacts of deforestation, which is the removal of forests. Deforestation can have a number of negative impacts, including increasing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the amount of carbon stored in forests, and causing habitat loss for plants and animals. By planting new forests, it is possible to offset some of these negative impacts and provide a range of ecological, economic, and social benefits.