Impacts of Climate Change on the Forest Ecosystems in Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate change is one of the world’s greatest challenges and creates new constraints for forest ecosystem. Geographic distribution of host trees and their associated insects and pathogens are already affected by climate changes with anticipated increases in pest impacts both by native and invasive pests. Forests and trees throughout the world are increasingly affected by factors related to global climate change. Climate greatly shapes forest’s species composition, structure, productivity, disturbance regimes, water yield, nutrient retention, wildlife habitat and availability of goods and services. Climate change also influences the timing, frequency, and magnitude of disturbances on forest ecosystem which in turn may worsen many of the threats to forests, such as pest outbreaks, fires, human development, and drought. Forest insects are the group of the greatest importance, including species detrimental to forest health. The effects of climate change on forest insects may be reflected in their distribution, phenology and number of generations and indirectly through impact on their natural enemies. Climate changes have direct and indirect effect on the expansion and productivity of forests through changes in temperature, rainfall, weather and alternative interrelated factors. Moreover, elevated levels of carbon dioxide have an impression on plant growth. The increasing temperature and drought have negative impacts on forest species diversity also as ecosystem goods and services to humanity. As atmospheric carbon dioxide increases over the next century, it is expected to become the first or second greatest driver of global biodiversity loss in which many diversity exist in forest ecosystem will be lost. The paper summarizes the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems and reviewed scientifically by reading different credible books, articles and journals, comprehensive scientific explanations regarding impacts of climate change on forest ecosystem and each resource is well offered in the reference section.