Forests and Tree-based Land Use Systems: Mitigation and Adaptation Option to Combat Climate Change

Abstract

Green house gases level in the atmosphere are rising at unprecedented speed which is leading to global climate change phenomenon and threatening life on the earth. Land use changes (deforestation, desertification); use of fossil fuels; developmental activities and industrialization are the key anthropogenic factors that have contributed towards outflow of carbon dioxide i.e. the major contributor of GHGs into the atmosphere. Therefore, to combat climate change, emphasis on sequestering the atmospheric carbon dioxide in long lasting terrestrial pools via planting forests/trees based land system is gaining recognition. Global forests if conserved and managed scientifically can mitigate on an average 5,380 Mt carbon dioxide annually by 2050. Tree based land use systems such as agro-forestry can store 1.1 to 2.2 Pg C worldwide in coming 50 years. Besides this, forests and tree based land use systems are resilient to climate change and thereby, offer an additional advantage of adaptation to climate change. The environmental and ecosystem services provided by forests and tree based land uses reduce the vulnerability of agro-ecosystems and people to changing climate by making them more adaptable and resilient. Furthermore, forests and tree based land use systems like agroforestry, short rotation plantations supports livelihood and socioeconomic base of the local people at grassroots level and the associated forest based industries at higher levels. Thus, there is need to focus on increasing forest and tree cover worldwide by promoting establishment of tree based land use systems, forests and tree plantations on wastelands, farm land, community lands etc. In addition to this, conservation of existing forest resources and their sustainable management needs to be given attention to combat climate change.