afforest

American  

[uh-fawr-ist, uh-for-] / əˈfɔr ɪst, əˈfɒr- /

verb (used with object)

1. to convert (bare or cultivated land) into forest, originally for the purpose of providing hunting grounds.

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afforest British  

/ əˈfɒrɪst /

verb

1. (tr) to plant trees on; convert into forested land

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Other Word Forms

• afforestation noun
• afforestment noun

Etymology

Origin of afforest

1495–1505; < Medieval Latin afforēstāre, equivalent to af- af- + forēst ( is ) forest + -āre infinitive suffix

Example Sentences

In contrast to carbon-capture tree plantations, which predominantly store carbon above ground, these below-ground carbon sinks -- which would be lost if afforested -- are less susceptible to disturbances such as drought and fire.

From Science Daily

Looking at 11,000 soil samples taken from afforested plots, the scientists found that in carbon poor soils, adding new trees did increase the density of organic carbon.

From BBC

To convert into a forest; as, to afforest a tract of country.

From Project Gutenberg

The portion of the county west of Southampton Water is almost wholly included in the New Forest, a sequestered district, one of the few remaining examples of an ancient afforested tract.

From Project Gutenberg

Meanwhile every effort is made to encourage the afforesting of the rugged hill-sides, in order to check the violence of the floods and the denuding of the arid, desiccated soil.

From Project Gutenberg