This report presents the results of an environmental-economic valuation study on tree planting for reforestation and forest increase. The valuation is based on the hypothetical scenario of the reforestation or creation of one (additional) hectare of forest. In this scenario, the social benefit of reforesting a forest area is calculated on the basis of a comparison with a fallow or green area on which no further forest would grow.

In the light of the current state of research on the monetization of ecosystem services, a simplified procedure has been developed for the environmental-economic evaluation of reforestation measures. Based on the available data and resources four ecosystem services were quantified and evaluated : climate protection, air filtration, nutrient retention, and the aesthetic effect on the landscape.

According to these calculations, the annual societal benefit of reforestation is approximately 10,580 €₂₀₂₃/ha/a. As a subsequent step the present value of the annual flow of benefits of the reforested area was calculated over a 30-year observation period. Different discount rates were used: 1%, 3%, and 5%. As a result, the present value of the benefits ranges from approximately 163,000 to 273,000 €₂₀₂₃/ha. Since many ecosystem services could not be evaluated within the scope of this brief study, including the effects on biodiversity, the aforementioned ranges should be considered a conservative estimate of the minimum social value of reforesting a similarly sized area of mixed forest.

Compared to the estimated costs of reforestation, the benefit-cost balance of reforestation is clearly positive. The results emphasize the societal relevance of reforestation and demonstrate that investing in forests is worthwhile from a societal perspective.