Reforesting the Planet : Utopia or Strategy ?

Will planting billions of trees save the planet ? Reforesting the Planet : Utopia or Strategy ?, part of the PLANÈTE AVENIR collection from Five Minutes, dissects this seductive promise with rigour. Drawing on recent studies (2024-2025), the author shows that the area genuinely available for planting is limited and that natural regeneration and protection of existing forests often yield better results. While recalling the benefits of reforestation-carbon sequestration, biodiversity restoration, job creation-the book exposes the pitfalls : albedo, monocultures, land grabs and misdirected finance. Concrete examples from the Sahel, Brazil and Canada illustrate both successes and failures. The mini book proposes pragmatic solutions : recognising Indigenous land rights, promoting agroforestry, assisted regeneration, species diversification and aligning public policies.

The work invites readers to move from utopian visions to a realistic road map. Engaged readers, policy makers and curious citizens will find keys to understanding the complexity of reforestation and acting wisely.