The role of forests in the global carbon cycle and in climate change policy.

Abstract

It is now widely accepted that increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are altering the Earth's climate system. Forests store and sequester vast amounts of carbon and are therefore a key component of the global carbon cycle. Understanding the nature of that contribution is vital to understanding current and future climate trends. The ability of forests to sequester atmospheric carbon led to their inclusion in the Kyoto Protocol as a means to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. This paper discusses the role of forest in both the global carbon cycle and climate change policy. The various means by which forests can contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are also discussed.