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How does reforestation differ from afforestation?

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wetland restoration — ecological restoration Wetland restoration along the Târnava Mică (Tîrnava Mică) River in Romania. A former gravel mine (left) was transformed into a functional wetland (right).

The primary distinction between reforestation and afforestation lies in the history of the land being planted.

Reforestation is the process of converting land that was previously forested back into a forest. It is a key component of ecological restoration used to recover degraded areas, improve ecosystem services, or support sustainable timber production.1
Afforestation refers to the establishment of a forest on land that has historically lacked tree cover.12

While both practices contribute to increasing forest coverage and can aid in carbon sequestration, they are distinct strategies. Reforestation focuses on restoring ecosystems that have been disrupted or cleared, whereas afforestation introduces forest cover to areas where it did not previously exist.12