Which process refers to restoring a forest that once existed in an area but was removed in the past?

Introduction:
Forest related terminology is important in environmental science and geography. This question checks whether the learner can correctly identify the term used when forests that previously existed in an area are grown again after being removed. It also helps distinguish between related terms like deforestation, afforestation, and traditional shifting cultivation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• A forest once existed in a particular area.
• The forest was removed at some point in the past due to human activity or natural causes.
• Trees are now being grown again in the same area to restore the forest.
• The options present several forest related terms.

Concept / Approach:
Reforestation means planting trees and regenerating forest in an area where forest cover previously existed but was cut down or destroyed. Afforestation refers to planting trees in a region that did not have forest earlier. Deforestation is the removal of existing forest cover. Jhum cultivation is a form of shifting agriculture. Therefore, the specific situation in the question matches the definition of reforestation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the area had forest in the past which has been removed.Step 2: The current effort is to restore that earlier forest cover by planting trees again in the same region.Step 3: Recall definitions: reforestation is regrowing forest in previously forested land, afforestation is creating forest on non forest land.Step 4: Deforestation is the cutting or clearing of forest, which is the opposite of what is described.Step 5: Match the situation with reforestation as the correct process.

Verification / Alternative check:
Many government and international environmental programmes talk about reforestation projects in degraded forest lands. They specifically use this term when earlier forests have been lost due to logging, fires, or agriculture, and the aim is to bring back tree cover. In contrast, afforestation projects are often mentioned for deserts or grasslands where forests did not exist previously. This real world usage confirms the distinction.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Deforestation refers to the removal of trees and conversion of forest to other land uses, so it is the opposite process. Greenhouse is related to structures used for controlled cultivation of plants and to the greenhouse effect in climate science, not to forest restoration. Jhum cultivation is a shifting cultivation practice where forests are cleared and burned for temporary farming, which again removes forest instead of restoring it. Afforestation means establishing forest on land where there was no forest earlier, which does not match the condition of a forest that once existed.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse reforestation and afforestation because both involve planting trees. The key difference is the previous state of the land. If the area had forest earlier, the correct term is reforestation. If it did not have forest cover earlier, planting trees there is called afforestation. Remembering this distinction avoids confusion in questions about forest management and environmental conservation.

Final Answer:
Correct option: Reforestation