Avoiding the Crowds: 10 Alternatives to the Most Popular National Parks in the United States

July 19, 2022

There are many sites around the country to visit instead of the most popular national parks, helping to relieve their ecosystems.

Yosemite Valley, one of the highlights of America’s National Park Service. Jeff Krause Photography. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

U.S. national parks are more popular than ever. This may sound like a cliché, but it is actually a growing problem. In 2021, America’s national parks received almost 300 million visitors, up 25% from 2020. This increase in visitors is causing strain on the natural environment of those places. In addition, the overcrowding of some national park sites make for an unpleasant experience for visitors. However, many of the visitors to the U.S. National Park Service sites concentrate themselves in a few popular parks. It is possible to have similar experiences at other sites with less crowds. Here are alternative sites to visit for the 10 most popular national parks in the United States.

1. Instead of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, go to Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park. jody.claborn. Public Domain Mark 1.0.

Grayson Highlands State Park. vastateparkstaff. CC BY 2.0.

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina border, is the one of the nation’s most popular national parks, receiving an all-time high of 14.1 million visitors in 2021. The park preserves towering mountains and hosts unique ecosystems. Similar landscapes can be found all over the Southern Appalachians, with the Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia a similar alternative. Grayson Highlands State Park is the home of the state’s highest peak, Mount Rogers, as well as the home of wild ponies. The treeless mountaintops there also make for sweeping views.

2. Instead of Zion National Park, go to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada.

Zion National Park. Joe Parks. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. andrew c mace. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Zion National Park in Utah features deep, narrow canyons with colorful layers of rock. Famous hikes in the park include the Narrows, a trek through a narrow slot canyon, and Angel’s Landing, a hike up an exposed promontory leading to wide views of Zion Canyon. Visitors at the second most popular national park are concentrated at two small areas, Zion Canyon and the Kolob Canyons area, due to the rugged landscape. Similar canyon areas with colorful rock layers can be found in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, just outside of Las Vegas. Visitors can explore the canyons and sandstone formations there. For the more adventurous, there are trails that take hikers to the peaks of nearby mountains.

3. Instead of Yellowstone National Park, go to Lassen Volcanic National Park in California.

Yellowstone National Park. James St. John. CC BY 2.0.

Lassen Volcanic National Park. Joe Parks. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Yellowstone, the world’s first national park, is full of unique geothermal features like hot springs and geysers and a variety of rare wildlife. However, it is not the only place in the United States where thermal features are found. In Northern California, Lassen Volcanic National Park also has geothermal features. The most pronounced of those are located in Bumpass Hell, a 3-mile hike from the main park road. As Lassen Peak most recently erupted in 1917, the remnants of that eruption can be seen in the Devastated Area. Volcanic activity has shaped the park, morphing it into an area teeming with geothermal activity.

4. Instead of Grand Canyon National Park, go to Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Texas.

Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon NPS. CC BY 2.0.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Thomas Shahan 3. CC BY 2.0.

The Grand Canyon of Arizona is the largest canyon in the United States, where the Colorado River carves out the Kaibab Plateau. Each rim, the North and South, offers a different experience to visitors, with the North Rim being more remote and secluded. The second largest canyon in the United States is the Palo Duro Canyon in Texas, which is a less crowded alternative to the Grand Canyon. The Palo Duro Canyon is formed by the Red River eroding the land, forming colorful strips of rock. Visitors can take part in a glamping (luxury camping) experience at the state park, as well as horseback riding into the canyon.

5. Instead of Rocky Mountain National Park, go to San Juan National Forest in Colorado.

Rocky Mountain National Park. Dusty J. CC BY 2.0.

San Juan National Forest. stefanserena. CC0 1.0.

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is regarded by some as the quintessential Rocky Mountain landscape. However, it only has one mountain higher than 14,000 feet: Longs Peak. The highest concentration of 14,000 feet peaks can be found in the southwest corner of the state in San Juan National Forest. In that wide span of mountains, hikers can seek solitude in the 2,399 miles of trails. There is also a scenic train ride between Durango and Silverton that allows riders to view the heart of the San Juan Mountains without much physical exertion.

6. Instead of Acadia National Park, go to White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire.

Acadia National Park. moonjazz. CC BY-NC 2.0.

White Mountain National Forest. johncudw2399. CC BY-NC 2.0.

The convergence of mountains and the coast, along with its proximity to several northeastern cities, make Acadia National Park a popular place to visit. The crashing waves along the rocky shore makes for some chaotic scenes, and Cadillac Mountain is the first mountain in the United States to see the sunrise. But, the tallest mountains in the Northeast are located in White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. Mount Washington, the tallest mountain in the state, has famously unpredictable weather, being the site of the highest wind speed ever recorded. A cog railway takes visitors up the mountain.

7. Instead of Grand Teton National Park, go to the Wind River Range in Wyoming.

Grand Teton National Park. fortherock. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Wind River Range. LoneWolfMontana. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Grand Teton National Park, located just south of Yellowstone, hosts a number of iconic views, from the rugged peak of Grand Teton itself to the T.A. Moulton Barn. Its lakes are a popular place for boating. While visitors crowd the viewpoints at Grand Teton, the nearby Wind River Range, which is shared by the Shoshone National Forest and the Bridger-Teton National Forest, offers much more solitude. Like Grand Teton, there are no roads in the interior of the Wind River Range, and adventurous travelers go on multi-day treks into the center of the mountain range. Gannett Peak, the tallest mountain in Wyoming, is located in the Wind River Range.

8. Instead of Yosemite National Park, go to the Alabama Hills in California.

Yosemite National Park. Eric Leslie. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Alabama Hills. RS2Photography. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Yosemite National Park offers majestic landscapes shaped by the remnants of glaciers in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Outside of Yosemite Valley, snowy peaks and bare mountains characteristic of the Sierra Nevadas abound. For a more quiet experience of the Sierras, visitors should consider the “other side” of the mountains, more specifically, the Alabama Hills. Located around the town of Lone Pine, those hills just below the highest peaks of the Sierras include unique geological formations. Hikers can also climb Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. Mono Lake, by the town of Lee Vining, also offers a look at an endorheic salt lake.

9. Instead of Indiana Dunes National Park, go to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan.

Indiana Dunes National Park. toddwendy. CC BY 2.0.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. kirsten.elise. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

As one of the newest national parks, only gaining the status in 2019, Indiana Dunes National Park preserves a unique ecosystem in Northwest Indiana just an hour outside of Chicago and South Bend. The beaches along Lake Michigan are popular in the summer and the South Shore Line railroad provides added accessibility by having a few stations in the vicinity. However, Indiana Dunes can get overcrowded in the summer, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan provides a more rustic experience. At Pictured Rocks, there are sand dunes like in Indiana Dunes, but also cliffs and waterfalls. While a multi-day hike along the North Country Trail will take intrepid travelers to all of the major sites, most of them are also accessible by car.

10. Instead of Glacier National Park, go to North Cascades National Park in Washington.

Glacier National Park. U.S. Geological Society. CC0 1.0.

North Cascades National Park. i8seattle. CC BY-NC 2.0.

In a place known for its namesake feature, Glacier National Park has relatively few of them. There are only 25 glaciers in the park and the last of them may be gone by 2030 due to climate change. However, there are 300 glaciers in North Cascades National Park, only a bit more than 2 hours away from Seattle. The main road through North Cascades goes through a deep valley with turquoise blue lakes, colored by the minerals carried by the glaciers. The end of the 23-mile unpaved Cascade River Road leads to a trail to Cascade Pass, which rewards visitors with scenic views of Forbidden Peak and Boston Mountain.

Sri Lanka Strives Toward Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment

September 30, 2020

Sri Lanka’s efforts to combat the gender gap allow women to support themselves and their communities.

Women selling produce at a market in Sri Lanka. imke.sta. CC2.0

Nicknamed the “pearl of the Indian Ocean” and famous for its spices, unique culture and lush ecosystems, Sri Lanka is also known for its advances in gender equality. The island nation became in 1960 the first country in the world to elect a female prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Sri Lanka has also long provided free and compulsory education for men and women up to the university level.

Even so, high levels of gender-based violence are present throughout the country and the unemployment rate of women is twice that of men. Most women occupy low-paying positions in agriculture and the garment industry with little chance of economic mobility. Although well-respected in the Asia-Pacific region, Sri Lanka’s educational system often enforces traditional ideological and cultural beliefs, which can perpetuate negative stereotypes about women. A university-level education does not guarantee women positions of power, with large disparities between men and women in science, technology and political positions throughout the country. Additionally, a 26-year-long civil war (1983-2009) isolated Sri Lanka from the modern world, allowing traditional gender roles to thrive in war-affected areas.

Developing economic opportunities for women has the potential to overcome barriers to gender equality. Here are two organizations working to do just that:

Women receiving medical training provided by the Women’s Development Centre. Rajapaksa. CC2.0

The Women’s Development Center

This Sri Lanka-based nongovernmental organization has made incredible strides in supporting at-risk women, children and people with disabilities since its founding in 1986. With the goal of creating opportunities for marginalized groups, the group is on its way to “creating a just and secure society for women and children.” Although the organization has a multifaceted approach, social enterprises and economic empowerment remain its key goals. The social enterprise “Sthree”, meaning “woman” in Tamil and Sinhala, was founded in 2011 with the goal of empowering women and their local communities. The platform provides a market in Kandy for Sri Lankan women and disabled people to sell handmade products, such as saris, jewelry, decor, snacks and chutneys, recycled paper products and eco-friendly purses and handbags. Sthree also provides training and skill-building workshops for women and disabled individuals. Sthree is beginning to expand to an international clientele, even hosting an international exhibition and sale in Sweden in 2016.

A woman making brooms for a woman’s cooperative in Sri Lanka. Foley. CC2.0

Puthukkudiyiruppu Women Entrepreneurs’ Cooperative Society

The PTK Cooperative, initially founded by Krishnakumar Jeyaranjini and 14 other women in 2012, provides a platform for war-affected women to support themselves and their families economically. The business has expanded over the years, producing detergent, chili powder and rice flour. The organization has the backing of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which helps link it to buyers, markets and social enterprises. The organization enables collaboration between women from different ethnic groups and communities in Sri Lanka, helping to create social cohesion and tolerance. The organization continues to defy gender norms and stereotypes. “Often the words ‘woman’ and ‘detergent’ bring out gendered images of a woman washing clothes at home, not of a woman owning or running a successful detergent-producing enterprise,” said Simrin Singh, director of the ILO country office for Sri Lanka. “It is stories of our work empowering women like Jeyaranjini, building block by block, that are the essential inspiration so many other women in this country could use to break the barriers to their empowerment.”

Although Sri Lanka has made considerable progress toward gender equality in the last 50 years, many obstacles remain. Empowering women at a grassroots level helps provide women more economic agency while ensuring the well-being of generations to come.

Megan is a Turkish-American student at Wellesley College in Massachusetts studying Biological Sciences. Passionate about environmental issues and learning about other cultures, she dreams of exploring the globe. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, singing, and composing music.

Sunrise on the Serengeti. Hu Chen. Unsplash.

10 Travel Destinations Paving the Way in Sustainability

July 17, 2020

According to the United Nations, the global community must take drastic measures to alleviate the climate crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, composed of nearly 1,300 scientists, predicts that global warming could increase worldwide temperatures up to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2040. This temperature rise will almost certainly exacerbate food insecurity, disease transmission, sea level rise and loss of ecosystems. From 2009 to 2013, international travel alone accounted for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Roughly 1.4 billion people travel to a new destination each year, indirectly contributing to air pollution, land degradation and strained resources. These current levels of travel threaten the Paris Agreement, which proposes an annual 7.6% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Many countries have recognized the importance of environmental management and have striven for sustainability. From Malta to Japan, travel destinations are implementing eco-friendly practices, such as renewable energy and wildlife conservation. Travelers to these locations can explore pristine environments while positively impacting the planet.

1. Gozo, Malta

The coastline of Gozo, Malta. Zoltan Tasi. Unsplash.

Located in the Mediterranean Sea, the island of Gozo boasts a rich historical identity. Recognized by UNESCO, the Ggantija Temples are the world’s oldest free-standing structures, predating Stonehenge and the pyramids of Egypt. In addition to these historical sites, the island is relatively undeveloped, offering scenic hills and untouched coastlines. The European Environment Agency regularly monitors urban waste and pollution in coastal areas. According to their assessment, Maltese beaches rank among the cleanest in Europe. Within this pristine environment, common activities include swimming, snorkeling, deep-sea diving and kayaking. Gozo also hosts 85 endemic species of flora and fauna. To protect and preserve this unique landscape, the Ministry for Gozo established the Eco-Gozo Regional Development Directorate in 2009. Over the past decade, the island has become a model for sustainable development. Through renewable energy, green transportation and plastic reduction, Gozo is committed to reducing its carbon and water footprints. Ecologists have established protected spaces for endangered species, while local craftsmen sustainably restore ancient ruins like the Ggantija Temples. To further improve the standard of living in the Gozitan community, the island implements eco-education programs in schools and offers locally sourced, organic ingredients in restaurants. Named the Mediterranean’s Best Green Destination in 2018, this small island continues to gain recognition for its innovative conservation efforts.

2. Ljubljana, Slovenia

The Ljubljanica River, a pure water source in central Slovenia. Pedro Szekely. CC BY-SA 2.0

Known as “Slovenia’s Green City,” Ljubljana is the first European capital to establish a “zero-waste” initiative. The city currently recycles nearly 70% of its waste, reducing landfill trash to a mere 5%. Residual waste is processed into recyclable materials, solid fuels and high-quality gardening compost. Public green spaces, which include thousands of trees, comprise a third of the city’s territory and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Visitors to Ljubljana can explore a variety of hiking trails, as well as an urban bee path that cares for 4,500 beehives. The city draws from the Ljubljanica River, which provides natural, non-processed drinking water and eliminates the need for plastic bottles. Since 2007, the historic city center has banned car traffic, allowing only bikes, pedestrians and electric trains. With fewer cars, the integrity of cultural and historical landmarks, like Preseren Square and Cobblers' Bridge, will be preserved for generations. In 2016, Ljubljana was deemed the “European Green Capital” and it plans to be zero-waste by 2035.

3. Azores, Portugal

The rugged cliffs of the Azores Islands in Portugal. Yves Alarie. Unsplash.

With nine volcanic islands, the archipelago of the Azores has diverse geological significance. The islands’ landscapes are dominated by craters, lagoons, waterfalls and lava fields. Visitors can hike among dense coastal forests, relax in natural hot springs and journey through dormant volcanoes. Azorean wildlife is varied and includes whales, dolphins, seals, bats and hedgehogs. However, rising sea temperatures spurred by climate change have driven aquatic species, such as the North Atlantic right whale, to near extinction. To protect the islands’ biodiversity, the Azores Islands harbor more than 60 marine protected areas which serve as sanctuaries for endangered species. Rather than burning fossil fuels, the Azores utilize geothermal power plants to harvest renewable energy from the earth’s subsurface. Geothermal power currently provides around 50% of the islands’ energy needs. Due to these sustainable developments, the Azores ranked among the world’s top 100 sustainable destinations in 2019.

4. Iwokrama Forest, Guyana

The dense foliage of the Iwokrama Forest. Kunal Shinde. Unsplash.

Named “The Green Heart of Guyana,” the Iwokrama Forest is one of the last pristine tropical forests in the world. For decades, global timber industries have exploited these natural ecosystems through deforestation, generating 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions. While tropical forests only occupy 7% of the Earth’s surface, they capture and store carbon naturally, with Iwokrama capturing over 1.4 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. In order to mitigate the loss of vital vegetation, Iwokrama employs a polycyclic harvesting system, resulting in the removal of less stems per acre and no significant gaps in the forest canopy. The Forest Stewardship Council has commended these forest management practices, which prioritize locals, wildlife and the natural environment. Amid lush forests, wetlands and savannas, visitors might encounter diverse wildlife such as jaguars, giant anteaters, black caimans and harpy eagles. While traversing the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, a 500-foot series of suspension bridges, travelers can examine nearly 6,500 species of plants. In 2016, Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Iwokrama Forest with the Green Award for its exemplary environmental stewardship.

5. Galapagos National Park, Ecuador

A Galapagos sea turtle swimming off the coast. Wexor Tmg. Unsplash.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galapagos National Park and surrounding waters are protected for conservation. The 19 islands boast distinct landscapes, ranging from barren volcanic rocks to green sand beaches formed by olivine crystals. The Galapagos are home to a variety of endemic species, including 15 mammals, 45 bird species and 79 types of fish. Due to wildlife sanctuaries and habitat restorations, vulnerable animals like tortoises, iguanas and sea lions live in harmony with humans. The Galapagos Islands also have a rich variety of endemic flora, with over 500 species discovered. When visiting the Galapagos, visitors are expected to act responsibly and treat the environment with respect. Common activities include snorkeling alongside sea turtles, hiking over dried lava beds and whale watching from kayaks. The Galapagos National Park is well maintained and protected by park rangers and volunteers, who partake in regular coastal cleanups. However, to ensure long-term sustainability, the islands offer outreach and education programs. Ecologists and environmental experts teach locals and visitors about the harmful effects of climate change and pollution in the hopes that this diverse landscape will endure for years to come.

6. Felicite Island, Seychelles

Felicite Island in the early morning. Nenad Radojčić. Unsplash.

Located in the Indian Ocean, Felicite Island contains parts of Ramos National Park and multiple marine protected areas. This small island community has multiple initiatives to conserve energy and invites visitors to share the responsibility of offsetting their carbon footprint. Drip irrigation has been introduced as a solution to water and energy waste. Widespread rainwater harvesting allows the use of rainwater for non-potable needs, such as washing clothes and watering gardens. Organic vegetable gardens support the ultimate aim of self-sustained food and beverages in the Seychelles. Special efforts are given to waste reduction, with zero-waste and plastic-free initiatives. Recently, island officials banned plastic bags, plates, cups and plastic foam boxes in order to mitigate ocean pollution. Additional conservation programs include a reforestation project, sea turtle monitoring and coral restoration. Within this pristine paradise, visitors can partake in snorkeling, diving and community outreach programs regarding climate change.

7. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Elephants, an endangered species, graze the Serengeti. Hu Chen. Unsplash.

Founded in 1951, Serengeti National Park houses one the highest concentrations of mammals in Africa, with species such as lions, giraffes and hippos. It is also known for the largest remaining unaltered animal migration in the world, with over 6 million zebras, gazelles and wildebeests stampeding over the fertile plains. At least four globally threatened or endangered species, such as elephants and cheetahs, thrive in these heavily-patrolled conservation areas. Guided safaris allow visitors to witness this diverse wildlife from a close proximity. Serengeti, however, is committed to sustainable visitation in order to protect the environment from irreversible damage. Human activity and waste disposal are closely monitored by park rangers. Conservation areas and secure breeding grounds also mitigate the impacts of deforestation, poaching and urbanization. Through such practices, Serengeti National Park allows wildlife to roam freely in their natural habitat, an increasingly rare commodity.

8. Republic of Palau

Coral reefs, an endangered ecosystem. Qui Nguyen. Unsplash.

Located in the western Pacific Ocean, the Republic of Palau includes over 200 volcanic and coral islands. Palau supports a diverse aquatic environment, inhabited by nearly 700 coral species and 1,400 fish species. Coral reefs protect coastlines from waves, provide wildlife with refuge and offer opportunities for recreation. Due to climate change, this vital ecosystem is severely threatened. The Coral Reef Research Foundation promotes water conservation, renewable energy and recycling to mitigate coral destruction. In 2018, Palau banned sunscreens that contain environmental pollutants and established marine sanctuaries in 80% of its territorial waters. Travelers to Palau must sign a pledge declaring that they will preserve and protect the island. While scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing, visitors must adhere to this pledge and respect wildlife.

9. Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan

Sun Moon Lake at sunset. Eddy Tsai. CC BY-SA 2.0

Residing in the foothills of Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range, Sun Moon Lake prides itself on maintaining a low carbon footprint. Public transportation routes have decreased the reliance on driving, thereby reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. Cable car systems, electric boats and cycling paths are common alternatives to cars at Sun Moon Lake. This rural region also hosts a range of dams which generate 62% of Taiwan's total hydroelectricity. Travelers to Sun Moon Lake can hike through dense forests, kayak in turquoise waters and interact with Indigenous people who live in the area. Thao natives, such as the Bunun, believe humans and Earth are intrinsically connected, opting to practice sustainable farming and fishing. Sun Moon Lake adheres to this philosophy and strives to protect the fragile environment.

10. Kamaishi, Japan

A traditional Japanese torii. Tianshu Liu. Unsplash.

Along the rugged Sanriku Coast, Kamaishi is an important fishing and industrial city. In 2011, a 45-foot tsunami swept through the city, devastating the local fishing industry and taking the lives of roughly 1,000 people. Amid ongoing reconstruction efforts, Kamaishi is prioritizing sustainability. Established two years after the tsunami, the Sanriku Fukko National Park consists of towering cliffs, unique stone formations and isolated coastlines. The Jodogahama and Kirikiri beaches, surrounded by vibrant green pine trees, host diverse marine ecosystems. Salmon, scallops, crabs and sea urchins are among the many aquatic animals that receive protections from overfishing. Through coastal cleanups, inland forestry conservation and river purification, Kamaishi strives to reduce the impact of industrial pollution. Forms of public transportation, such as electric trains and ride-shares, further mitigate car traffic and fossil fuels. Kamaishi is also a leader in renewable energy, relying on solar power and biomass fuel to power residential areas. Environmental organizations have commended Kamaishi for rebuilding a cleaner community in the wake of such a devastating natural disaster.

Shannon Moran

is a Journalism major at the University of Georgia, minoring in English and Spanish. As a fluent Spanish speaker, she is passionate about languages, cultural immersion, and human rights activism. She has visited seven countries and thirty states and hopes to continue traveling the world in pursuit of compelling stories.

A regenerating stand of rainforest in northern Costa Rica. Matthew Fagan, CC BY-ND

Restoring Tropical Forests Isn’t Meaningful if Those Forests Only Stand For 10 or 20 years

March 25, 2019

Tropical forests globally are being lost at a rate of 61,000 square miles a year. And despite conservation efforts, the global rate of loss is accelerating. In 2016 it reached a 15-year high, with 114,000 square miles cleared.

At the same time, many countries are pledging to restore large swaths of forests. The Bonn Challenge, a global initiative launched in 2011, calls for national commitments to restore 580,000 square miles of the world’s deforested and degraded land by 2020. In 2014 the New York Declaration on Forests increased this goal to 1.35 million square miles, an area about twice the size of Alaska, by 2030.

Ecological restoration is a process of helping damaged ecosystems recover. It produces many benefits for both wildlife and people – for example, better habitat, erosion control, cleaner drinking water and jobs.

That’s why the Bonn Challenge is so exciting for geographers and ecologists like us. It brings restoration into the center of global discussions about combating climate change, preventing species extinctions and improve farmers’ lives. It connects governments, organizations, companies and communities, and is catalyzing substantial investments in forest restoration.

However, a closer look shows that a struggle remains to fully realize the Bonn Challenge vision. Some reforestation efforts provide only limited benefits, and studies have shown that maintaining these forests for decades is critical to maximize the economic and ecological benefits of establishing them.

Reforestation project in northern Costa Rica: a plantation of native trees with valuable wood. Matthew Fagan, CC BY-ND

Putting trees back on the land

So far, 48 nations and 10 states and companies have made Bonn Challenge commitments to restore 363,000 square miles by 2020 and another 294,000 square miles by 2030. The United States and a Pakistani province have already fulfilled their commitments, restoring a total of 67,000 square miles.

Restoring forests poses political and economic challenges for national governments. Letting forests grow back inevitably means pulling land out of farming. Natural forest regeneration mainly occurs where farmers have abandoned poor quality land, or where governments discourage poor farming practices – for example, near wetlands or on steep slopes. Opportunities for natural regeneration elsewhere are limited.

As a result, much forest landscape restoration under the Bonn Challenge focuses on improving existing landscapes using trees. Restoration activities may include creating timber or fruit plantations; agroforestry, or planting rows of trees in and around agricultural fields; and silviculture, or improving the condition of degraded forests.

The U.N. Decade of Ecosystem Restoration seeks to restore some 5 billion acres of deforested and degraded landscapes and seascapes between 2021 and 2030.

One early success, the “Billion Tree Tsunami” in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has exceeded its 350,000-hectare pledge through a combination of protecting forest regeneration and planting trees. Similarly, Rwanda has restored 700,000 of the 2 million hectares it pledged, primarily through agroforestry and reforesting erosion-prone areas, and created thousands of green jobs.

Green deserts

However, these “restored forests” are often poor replacements for natural habitat. For animals dwelling in tropical forests, agroforestry and tree plantations can look more like green deserts than forests.

Many tropical forest wildlife species are only found in mature tropical forests and cannot survive in open agroforests, monoculture tree plantations or young natural regeneration. Truly restoring tropical forest habitat takes a diversity of forest species, and time.

Nonetheless, these working “forests” do have ecological value for some species, and can spare remaining natural forests from axes, fire and plows. In addition, scientists have estimated that restored forests could sequester up to 16 percent of the carbon needed to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while generating some US$84 billion in assets such as timber and erosion control.

Restored, but for how long?

Benefits for wildlife and Earth’s climate from forest restoration accrue over decades. However, many forests are unlikely to remain protected for this long.

In a 2018 study we showed that forests that naturally regenerated in Costa Rica between 1947 and 2014 had only a 50 percent chance of enduring for 20 years. Most places where forests regrew were subsequently re-cleared for farming. Twenty years represents about a quarter of the time needed for forest carbon stocks to fully recover, and less than one-fifth of the time required for many forest-dwelling plants and animals to return.

Unfortunately, 20 years may be more than most new forests get. Studies in Brazil and Peru show that regenerating forests there are re-cleared even faster, often after just a few years.

This problem is not limited to natural forests. Agroforests worldwide are under pressure. For example, until recent decades, coffee and cocoa farmers in the tropics raised their crops in agroforests under a shady canopy of trees, which mimicked the way these plants grow in nature and maximized their health. Today, however, many of them grow their crops in the sun. This method can improve yield, but requires pesticides and fertilizer to compensate for added stress on the plants.

And although timber plantations sequester additional carbon with every harvest and replanting, their replanting is dependent on shifting market demand for wood. Once they are harvested after six to 14 years of growth, tropical timber plantations can be abandoned as a bad investment and replaced with higher-yielding row crops or pasture.

Solid foundations for recovery

If the Bonn Challenge is to achieve its goals, nations will have to find ways of converting short-term restoration pledges into long-term ecosystem recovery. This may require tightening the rules.

Some countries have pledged to protect unrealistically large areas. For example, Rwanda committed to restore 77 percent of its national territory, and Costa Rica and Nicaragua pledged to restore 20 percent of their territories apiece. Another flaw is that the Bonn Challenge does not prevent countries from deforesting some areas even as they are restoring others.

It will be impossible to track overall progress without an international commitment to monitor and sustain restoration successes. International organizations need to invest in satellite and local monitoring networks. We also believe they should consider how large international investmentsin sectors such as agriculture, mining and infrastructure drive forest loss and regrowth.

Countries like Indonesia that may be considering a Bonn Challenge pledge should be encouraged to focus on long-term impacts. Instead of restoring 10,000 square miles of one-year-old forest by 2020, why not restore 5,000 square miles of 100-year-old forest by 2120? Countries like Costa Rica that have already pledged can lock in those gains by protecting regrown forests.

The U.N. General Assembly recently approved a resolution designating 2021 to 2030 as the U.N. Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. We hope this step will help motivate nations to keep their promises and invest in restoring Earth’s deforested and degraded ecosystems.

MATTHEW FAGAN is an assistant Professor of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

LEIGHTON REID is a faculty associate at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

MARGARET BUCK HOLLAND is an associate Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON THE CONVERSATION