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

Chapter 1: Forests and climate change
1.4 Forests and climate change adaptation
Forest-dependent communities in developing countries are particularly
vulnerable to the damaging impacts of climate change, despite being the
least responsible. However, with appropriate management strategies,
forests can help individuals or communities to adapt to these impacts,
and to provide buffers against them.
How do forestry projects help communities to adapt to climate change?
• Properly designed and implemented forestry projects bring
additional financial income to forest-based communities and
diversify their livelihoods. Additional income allows people to
take advantage of a wider range of goods and services while
a variety of income sources provides insurance against risk.
Financial security and insurance increase the capacity to adapt
to changing circumstances, climate-induced or otherwise.
• Responsible carbon stewardship also ensures that forests
and their services are sustained and restored. This enables
local communities to continue to use the resources that can
provide additional income, such as non-timber forest products,
and those that provide for their daily needs, such as food and
fuelwood.
• Forests also shield forest-dependent communities from some
of the worst climate change impacts. For example, coastal
forests and mangroves can reduce the impacts of flooding,
tsunamis, and typhoons. Forested hillsides can reduce the
frequency and severity of landslides.
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