Drones in the U.S. Replant Burned Forests After Fires That Destroyed Over 3 Million Hectares in 2020 Using Swarms Capable of Covering 20 Hectares per Day and Accelerating Environmental Recovery

Written by Noel Budeguer

Published on 24/02/2026 at 18:46

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In The United States, The Company DroneSeed Conducted Reforestation With Swarms Of Drones After Fires Burned More Than 3 Million Hectares In 2020 To Accelerate Forest Recovery, Reducing Planting Time And Attracting Attention From The Environmental Sector.

The 2020 wildfire season was the most devastating ever recorded in the United States, with more than 3 million hectares destroyed by fire in various regions of the country.

Normally, recovering these areas would take years and require hundreds of workers planting seedlings manually grown in nurseries. The traditional process is slow and relies on large teams in the field.

A company based in Seattle has developed a technological alternative that promises to accelerate large-scale reforestation. The proposal uses swarms of drones to drop seeds in areas devastated by fire.

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Swarms Of Drones Can Plant Up To 20 Hectares Per Day

DroneSeed uses drones that are 2.5 meters in size operating in swarms of up to five units at the same time.

These drones follow pre-programmed routes and can cover up to 20 hectares per day, significantly accelerating planting.

Each drone can carry up to 25 kilos of seed pods, allowing for large quantities of material to be released in hard-to-reach areas.

According to the company, the system is six times faster than traditional manual planting, which typically covers just under 1 hectare per day.

The time needed to put seeds in the ground has also dropped drastically, from three years to around three months.

Swarms Of Drones From DroneSeed Are Prepared For A Reforestation Mission In The United States, Where The Technology Is Already Used To Recover Areas Devastated By The 2020 Wildfires, Which Destroyed Over 3 Million Hectares. Equipped With Lidar And Pre-Programmed Routes, The Drones Drop Up To 25 Kg Of Seed Pods Per Flight And Can Plant Up To 20 Hectares Per Day — A Process Up To Six Times Faster Than Traditional Manual Planting

Technology Identifies The Best Locations To Plant Trees

The process begins with detailed mapping of the terrain using advanced technology.

The company uses Lidar, the same detection system used in autonomous cars, to create three-dimensional models of the terrain.

Sensors analyze different light wavelengths to identify differences between gravel and areas with healthy soil.

This information allows for defining points with the highest chances of tree growth, increasing the efficiency of reforestation.

This detailed mapping is what guides the programmed routes of the drones.

Special Pods Help Seeds Survive In The Soil

The seeds are released into specially designed pods to increase survival chances.

These so-called seed pods contain fertilizers, nutrients, and agents that help prevent pests.

The material is made of dry fiber that absorbs moisture and expands as the environment becomes wetter, reducing the risk of drying out.

This detail is considered essential, as drying out is one of the main causes of seed loss.

The pods also include extremely hot pepper, used to prevent squirrels and other animals from eating the seeds.

Tests Show Planting Up To 100 Trees Per Hectare

DroneSeed claims that tests conducted in New Zealand and Washington State indicate that the system can plant nearly 100 trees per hectare.

The company is already involved in the reforestation of areas affected by fires in California and Oregon, as well as evaluating new locations on the West Coast of the United States.

The use of drones to spread seeds is not new, as planes and helicopters have already conducted this type of operation.

Experts say that aerial seeding is often cheaper and simpler than manual planting, although it typically has a lower success rate.

Still, the correct choice of species and planting locations can greatly increase the method’s efficiency.

With the intensification of climate change and the increase of wildfires, the demand for quick reforestation solutions continues to grow.

Drone technology emerges as a promising alternative, but it is not yet considered a definitive solution for recovering destroyed forests.

Do You Think Drones Can Replace Manual Planting In Forest Recovery? Leave Your Opinion In The Comments.

Drones in the U.S. Replant Burned Forests After Fires That Destroyed Over 3 Million Hectares in 2020 Using Swarms Capable of Covering 20 Hectares per Day and Accelerating Environmental Recovery

In The United States, The Company DroneSeed Conducted Reforestation With Swarms Of Drones After Fires Burned More Than 3 Million Hectares In 2020 To Accelerate Forest Recovery, Reducing Planting Time And Attracting Attention From The Environmental Sector.

Swarms Of Drones Can Plant Up To 20 Hectares Per Day

Technology Identifies The Best Locations To Plant Trees

Special Pods Help Seeds Survive In The Soil

Tests Show Planting Up To 100 Trees Per Hectare

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Drones in the U.S. Replant Burned Forests After Fires That Destroyed Over 3 Million Hectares in 2020 Using Swarms Capable of Covering 20 Hectares per Day and Accelerating Environmental Recovery

In The United States, The Company DroneSeed Conducted Reforestation With Swarms Of Drones After Fires Burned More Than 3 Million Hectares In 2020 To Accelerate Forest Recovery, Reducing Planting Time And Attracting Attention From The Environmental Sector.

Swarms Of Drones Can Plant Up To 20 Hectares Per Day

Technology Identifies The Best Locations To Plant Trees

Special Pods Help Seeds Survive In The Soil

Tests Show Planting Up To 100 Trees Per Hectare

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A 250-ton transformer traveled 1,929 km by road in India on a slow and planned journey that demonstrates how the power grid relies on giant loads, detours, and impossible routes for regular trucks.

Larger than the Toyota Hilux and with a towing capacity of 3.5 tons, the new MG U9 2026 features a 2.5 turbodiesel engine, 520 Nm, 4×4 traction with three locks, and an almost full-size build.

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