This helps seeds grow and new trees appear  (=εμφανίζονται) naturally over time.

But other times, forests need more help. This is especially true for forests that have been hurt by wildfires, logging (=cutting down trees), farming, and other things people do.

plant a tree

In these cases, we might need to plant young trees or seeds from different native plants (=αυτοφυή φυτά, plants that grow naturally in a place) to help the forest grow strong and healthy again.

Here are some ways we can help a forest become healthy again:

Choosing the Right Trees

soil

- Some trees grow better in certain places. We pick trees that are best for the climate, soil, and animals that live in the place to make sure the forest grows strong.

getting rid of

Getting Rid of Bad Plants- Sometimes, there are plants that don’t belong (=δεν ανήκουν) in the forest and can hurt the good plants and trees. We can take these bad plants out to help the forest stay healthy.

Protecting (=προστατεύοντας, keeping safe) streams and rivers

- By planting trees around rivers and streams, we help keep the water clean and make sure animals have a place to live.

Fixing (=διορθώνοντας) the soil

- Healthy soil is super important for trees to grow. We can help by adding things like compost (plant food) to make the soil better.

Creating canopy gaps

canopy gap

Canopy gaps are open spaces in the trees. These spaces help rare plants and trees to grow back.

checking the forest

Watching and checking the forest

- We don’t just plant trees and walk away. We check how the forest is doing to make sure it’s healthy and growing. If something’s wrong, we can fix (=διορθώνω, repair) it.

- Everyone can help! It’s important for people who live near the forest to join in and help take care of it, so that the forest can stay healthy for a long time.

Adapted from:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/michigan/stories-in-michigan/forest-restoration/

Now think about and answer the following questions in your notebook:
1. Why is it important to choose the right trees for a forest?
2. Why should we get rid of bad plants?
3. Why are canopy gaps important?
4. Why is it necessary to keep checking on the forest after planting trees?