Terraforming is the process of altering the surface of a planet to make it more suitable for habitation. The Federation engaged in terraforming efforts during the 24th century, including the effort to terraform Velara III. The process was extremely long, taking decades to accomplish. The Velara III project was abandoned when it was discovered that the planet was inhabited by a life form whose existence was threatened by the changing environment.1The Genesis device could be considered to be an extreme form of terraforming, capable of recreating the surface of a dead planet into a life-bearing form in a matter of hours.2
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