Seed pods ain't trees. There's a reason that when forestry companies replant trees, they are planting seedlings that have been cultivated for planting purposes.

Seed pods ain't trees. There's a reason that when forestry companies replant trees, they are planting seedlings that have been cultivated for planting purposes. They aren't just shoving seeds into the ground and hoping for the best. It's a very good idea to make planting trees cheaper. I've often pondered robotics for tree planting. But will it be as cheap as human labour in terms of stems that make it to maturity? Hand-planted seedlings have a fairly good survival rate and tend to be well spaced, even if the planter is relatively negligent. Typically, the planted trees will need to be thinned later on, because so many survive. As it stands, it costs a licensee $2-$3 CAD per stem to reforest an area. Typical densities are 1400-1800 stems per hectare. That's actually pretty cheap. Mature trees at harvest are worth thousands. Source: worked as a tree planter for three seasons, have friends in the forestry sector.