Forests and Climate

Abstract

Planting trees is widely touted as a hedge against climate change. However, the importance of forest for the maintenance of global climate cannot yet be reliably quantified. A forest ecosystem creates its own microclimate. The microclimate of an natural-pristine or man-made forest ecosystem is closely related to the physiognomy and architecture of the canopy. Deforestation annually accounts for about 6.4 billion metric tons of Carbon dioxide emissions, or about 22 per cent of Carbon dioxide emissions. Plantations and agroforestry schemes can absorb carbon dioxide, which will check global warming and climatic changes.