As the impacts of climate change and climate variability become increasingly evident in many parts of the world, the critical role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation has become widely recognized. By acting as carbon sinks and storing carbon, forests make a significant contribution to climate change mitigation. They also play an essential role in reducing the vulnerabilities of people and ecosystems and enhancing their abilities to adapt to climate change and climate variability.
In many countries, policies related to forests and climate change are the competencies of different sections of government and involve different groups of stakeholders and experts. The exchange of information across administrative and sectoral boundaries on issues pertaining to forestry and climate change is often limited, and the principles of good governance are not always applied in the best possible manner. Climate change issues have not yet been fully addressed in national forest-related policies in many countries. Moreover, the forest sector's potential to support climate change mitigation and adaptation at the national level, and the needs that must be met to realize this potential, have not been thoroughly considered in national climate change strategies. The cross-sectoral dimensions of the impacts of climate change and response measures have also not been fully appreciated.
Efforts within a country to mitigate and adapt to climate change may have major implications on forest policy and sustainable forest management. Using a governance framework can help countries develop and implement comprehensive forest policies that can promote sustainable forest management. Without properly addressing forest governance and integrating climate change issues into their national forest policy, sustainable forest management will likely not be achieved.
This document, Climate Change for Forest Policy-Makers: An approach for integrating climate change into national forest policy in support of sustainable forest management, Version 2.0, is part of the effort by the Forestry Department of FAO to assist countries in their efforts to address policy issues related to forests and climate change by integrating climate change considerations into national forest-related policies and actions. It follows a specific request by the FAO Committee on Forests to update the 2011 edition of Climate Change for Forest Policy-Makers. This publication is intended to help senior officials in government administrations and the representatives of other stakeholders groups, including civil society organizations and the private sector, prepare the forest sector for the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change in the light of new international agreements.