Abstract
Forests account for 60% of lands in Taiwan. Climate change impacts forests in many aspects and is increasingly likely to undermine the ability of forests to provide basic ecosystem services. To help reduce the impact of climate change on Taiwan’s forests, people must be made aware of the relationship between climate change and forests. Based on questionnaires collected from 17 cities in Taiwan, this study applied spatial analysis to assess the respondents’ understanding of climate change and adaptation strategies for forest management. A total of 650 questionnaires were distributed and 488 valid ones were collected. The results show that (1) Most respondents believe that climate change is true and more than half of the respondents have experienced extreme weather events, especially extreme rainfall; (2) Most respondents believe that climate change will affect Taiwan’s forests with the majority recognizing the increasing impact of extreme events being the primary cause, followed by changes in the composition of tree species and the deterioration of forest adaptability due to climate change; (3) Most respondents expressed that forest management should be adjusted for climate change and called for measures being taken to establish mixed forests as well as monitoring forest damage; (4) In order to address the difficulties faced by forest owners on the impact of climate change, the majority of respondents felt that the government should raise forest owners’ understanding on climate change and adaptation policies, while the subsidy incentives must also be adjusted. The results of this study show that the respondents do realize the importance of climate change and forest management so much so their awareness in this matter led to their support for forest adaptation measures and policies.
Highlights
Worldwide, climate change has posed a significant threat to forests due to the increasing heat and aridity, shifting rainfall patterns and extreme weather events
Since progressive adaptation may not be effective for species with long life expectancies, such as trees, Messier et al [15] indicated that researchers must forecast changes in climate conditions instead of only observing them
The objective of this study was to determine what Taiwanese people think about climate change and forest adaptation policies using a questionnaire survey and subsequent data analysis
Summary
Climate change has posed a significant threat to forests due to the increasing heat and aridity, shifting rainfall patterns and extreme weather events. Anthropogenic climate change impacts the growth and productivity of trees [1,2], tree health and composition of species [3,4], and the extent to which trees are damaged by natural disturbances [5,6]. Collaboration between managers and decisionmakers ensures that a forest fits the needs and preferences of the residents [16] Advantages of such co-participation include a comprehensive foundation in policy support, enhanced information sharing and professional knowledge on adaptations in response to unique climate conditions [15,17]
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