We can increase the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by growing more forests. This can be done by:

• establishingforestsonlandthathasnotbeena forestforaverylongtime(severaldecadesago)-this iscalledafforestation;

• re-establishingforestsinanareathatwasrecentlya forest(aroundadecadeago)-thisiscalled reforestation;

• plantingsuitabletreesindegradedforestareasto restoreforeststructure.

Theseactivitieswillincrease carbon sinksandpromotethe establishment of valuable forest ecosystem services.

We can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmospherebyreducingtheareasofforestremovedandtreescutdown.Thiscanbedoneby:

• preventingtheconversionofforeststoanotherland usetype(e.g.properlanduseplanningofforestareas tominimiseforestclearanceinsteadofcompletely clearingtheforesttoestablishcashcropplantations orpastureland);

• applyinglessdestructivetimberharvestingtechniques (e.g.selectonlysuitabletreestoharvestandensure minimumenvironmentaldisturbancewhenputtingin loggingroadsandtracks);

• practisingfarmingsystemsthatminimisetheremoval oftrees(e.g.applyagroforestryfarmingsystems);

• conservingforeststhatareunderthreatofbeing removed.

Theseactivitieswillprotect carbon pools and sinks and maintain forest ecosystem services.

For more information contact:SPC/GIZCopingwithClimateChangeinthe

PacificIslandRegionProgammeP.O. Box 14041

Suva.FijiIslandsTelephone:(+679)3305983

©SecretariatofthePacificCommunity

Forests &Climate Change

Theincreaseingreenhousegasesintheatmosphereisresultinginrisingglobalatmospherictemperatures.Thisisleadingtoclimatechange.Carbondioxideisthemaingreenhousegasemittedthroughhumanactivities,especiallyfromtheuseoffossilfuelssuchaspetrol,oil,dieselandcoal.

Forests mitigateclimatechangebyremoving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.Treestakeincarbondioxidetomaketheirfoodandbuildnewplantcells.

Theprocessofremovingcarbondioxidefromtheatmosphereandaccumulatingitinacarbonpool(likeaforest)iscalledcarbon sequestration.

Aforestisactivelytakingincarbondioxidewhenitisgrowing.Duringthisprocess,morecarbonisstoredintheforestthanisreleasedintotheatmosphere.Thismakesagrowing forest a carbon sink.

Aforestisalsoreferredtoasacarbon pool. A carbon poolhasthecapacitytostoreandreleasecarbon.Inaforest,carbonismeasuredfromfivemaincarbonpoolsas:i)above-groundbiomass(e.g.treesandplants),ii)below-groundbiomass(roots),iii)deadwood,iv)leaf-litter,andv)soilorganicmatter.Theoceanandatmospherearealsomajorcarbonpools.

Forestshaveotherfunctionsthatarejustasimportantassequesteringandstoringcarbon.Theyprovidevaluableecosystem servicessuchas:

• regulatingthelocalclimate

• mitigatingfloodsandreducingsoilerosion

• purifyingwater

• supportingthenutrientcycle

• contributingtosoilformation

• harbouringdifferentkindsofplants,animalsandbirds

• providingforestcommunitieswithfood,freshwater, wood,fibre,medicine,andshelter.

Theseservicesreducethevulnerabilityoflocalcommunitiestotheimpactsofclimatechange.

Forestsalsohostplants,animalsandsitesthatareofculturalandspiritualsignificancetolocalforestcommunities.

Forestsareavastcarbonpool.Whentreesandforestvegetationdiebecauseofnaturaldisastersanddiseasesorarecutdownorburnt,largequantitiesofcarbonarereleasedintotheatmosphereascarbondioxide.Thismakesforestsapotentiallylargecarbon source.

Almost17.4%oftotalanthropogenic(man-made)greenhousegasemissionsareattributedtotheremovalofforests.Themaindriverforforestremovalisthedemandforagriculturalland.

Removalofforestsalsoresultsintheloss of forest ecosystems services. Thelossofforestscanleadto the lossoftraditionalskillsandculturalvaluesrelatingtotreesand forests.