Effectiveness of Forest and Land Rehabilitation Programs in Increasing Vegetation Cover: A Systematic Review

Journal: Journal of Horizon

Publication: 2024-11-28 · Vol. 1 No. 2 · pp. 39–49

DOI: 10.62872/jh.v1i2.571

Abstract

Forest and land rehabilitation programs have emerged as a central strategy in global efforts to reverse land degradation, restore ecosystem services, and mitigate climate change. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from sixteen peer-reviewed studies published between 2021 and 2025, examining the effectiveness of reforestation and land rehabilitation programs across multiple countries including China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Guatemala, the Philippines, and Ethiopia. The primary outcome of interest is change in vegetation cover, assessed through remote sensing indices, land-use classification, and field measurements. Results indicate that, overall, rehabilitation programs are effective in increasing vegetation cover when implemented in areas with significant existing land degradation, complemented by sound site selection, integrated management, and long-term monitoring. China's large-scale programs—particularly the Sloping Land Conversion Program and the Returning Farmland to Forest Program—demonstrated the most consistent and quantifiable gains, with vegetation cover on the Loess Plateau rising from 45% in 2000 to 64% in 2018. Programs in Pakistan, Guatemala, and Indonesia also reported meaningful improvements, while the National Greening Program in the Philippines showed comparatively limited outcomes. Key moderating factors include biophysical context, species diversity, land tenure, and governance quality. The review concludes that monoculture-oriented afforestation, while increasing canopy cover, may compromise ecosystem quality, and that integrating biodiversity and socioeconomic sustainability into program design is essential for long-term effectiveness.