Interactions between Climate Change and the World's Forest Sector

Abstract

Forests havemajor roles in climate change situation, they currently contribute about one-sixth of global carbon emissions, they have the potential to absorb and store about 30 % of current levels of carbon emissions from fossil fuels and industry sectors into their biomass, soils and products and store them in perpetuity for decades or even centuries.The earth's biosphere constitutes a carbon sink that absorbs approximately 2.3 GtC.yr^-1.  Estimated global carbon stock in the world’s forests are 1,100 GtC, highly varying among different forest ecosystems. Estimated that forests and other ecosystems could provide more than one-third of the total CO₂ reductions required to keep global warming below 2 °C through to 2030 (under Paris Agreement).Hence, trees are supposed to slow global warming and global climate change. At present, however, about 12 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to derive from deforestation. Emissions annual carbon fluxes from deforestation reported by 0.92 GtC.yr^-1. Forest disturbances are sensitive to climate.  Conversely,climate change over the next century is expected to have significant reverse impacts on forest ecosystems. Moreover, world ecosystems will be indirectly changed bythe next century through the disruptions in forest system. Hence, urgentaction is needed for implementation of national strategy, national policies, and positive incentives, for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in countries.  Finally, recovery of degraded forests to redevelop their resilience and their ecosystem services will provide part of a long-term approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change.