Community guidelines for accessing forestry voluntary carbon ... - FAO

Chapter 1: Forests and climate change
Some impacts may also be positive, depending on the circumstances: 9
1. Length of growing season: Warmer temperatures for a longer
period of time will increase food productivity in some areas
and reduce it in others, depending on water supply and crop
adaptability.
2. Agricultural productivity of land: Warmer temperatures will
make it possible to expand agriculture in northern regions like
Russia and Canada, but make some crops, particularly in the
tropics, more susceptible to disease and heat stress.
3. Higher plant productivity: Increased carbon dioxide levels
will increase rates of photosynthesis in many types of plants,
which may result in higher yields of certain global crops.
4. Levels of precipitation: Climate change is expected to increase
annual precipitation in many parts of the world, leading
to changes in crop productivity and natural hazards such as
flooding and drought.
1.3 How does climate change affect forests?
Climate change can both improve and damage forest conditions. In
situations where it negatively affects forests, it also reduces the benefits
of forest products and environmental services.
9 UNFCCC. 2002. Climate Change Information Sheet 10: Agriculture and Food
Security; Climate Change Information Sheet 13: Water Resources. From Climate
Change Information Kit. (Available at http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/publications/
infokit_2002_en.pdf)
25