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How is reforestation different from afforestation?

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Edge of a dense forest in Romania where clear cutting has removed most trees, leaving a bare, brown slope beside standing green trees. — Deforestation A section of clear-cut forest in Romania.

Reforestation and afforestation are distinct processes defined by the history of the land being planted:

Reforestation is the conversion of land that was previously forested back into a forest. This process is a vital component of ecological restoration and is frequently used to restore areas that have been degraded or deforested.1
Afforestation refers to the establishment of a forest on land that has historically lacked tree cover.12

While both practices contribute to carbon sequestration and environmental management, they differ fundamentally in their starting point: reforestation seeks to recover lost forest ecosystems, whereas afforestation introduces forest cover to areas where it did not previously exist.12