Climate Change and Forest Resources

There is growing evidence that even if modest control policies are adopted, increasing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere will lead to global warming over the next century and beyond. This is expected to have profound effects on the location and productivity of the world’s ecosystems.

Although a great deal of attention has been devoted to studying the direct effects of climate change on agriculture and coastal systems, comparatively little attention has been devoted to studying the impacts on the world’s forests. Yet virtually every forest system around the world is expected to be influenced by climate change; from tropical forests in Africa or the Amazon to polar forests in Canada or Russia.

This book discusses important scientific and policy relevant information about climate change and global forests. Divided into three general sections, the book:

• highlights the natural science link between greenhouse gases and forests
• discusses the social impacts of climate-induced forest changes
• discusses policies to use forests to sequester carbon.

Each chapter of includes a review of the literature relevant to the specific issues addressed.