Climate Change Impacts on Forestry

Changing temperature and precipitation patterns and increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ are likely to drive significant changes in natural and modified forests. This article provides a scientific assessment of the impacts of climate change on forests worldwide giving significant attention to forests in the U.S. This review is focused on publications that discuss the changes in commercial forestry, excluding the ecosystem functions of forests and non-timber forest products. The report concentrates on potential direct and indirect impacts of climate change on the forest industry, including economic impacts, the projections of future trends in commercial forestry, the possible role of biofuels, and changes in supply and demand.

Publication Date: August 16, 2007

Authors or Affiliated Users:

• Andrei P. Kirilenko
• Roger A. Sedjo

Related Organizations:

• Resources for the Future (RFF)
• National Academy of Sciences

Sectors:

• Biodiversity and ecosystems
• Forestry

Resource Category:

• Assessments

Resource Types:

• Assessment

Impacts:

• Air temperature
• Drought
• Economic
• Extreme storms and hurricanes
• Invasive species and pests
• Precipitation changes
• Wildfires

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