brochure - Taskforce on Adapting Forests to Climate Change

<strong>Taskforce</strong> on Adapting Forests to Climate Change (TAFCC)Forests provide a variety of goods and services, including timber, wildlife habitat,soil and water protection, recreation, and aesthetics. Accordingly, management for these multipleobjectives requires that trees and forests are adapted to their local climatic conditions. With climatechange, however, it may become increasingly difficult to provide the same quality and quantity ofgoods and services in the future.Outputsl Scientifically-based problem analysis onforest management and climate changefor forest landowners.l Recommendations for forest landownersTo maintain healthy and productive forests,landowners and forest managers needinformation on management options availableto adapt forests to future climates.Scientists project that average temperatures will rise and precipitation patterns will change during the21st century. These changes in climate are likely to exacerbate the effects of stresses such as drought,heat, insects, diseases, and fire. Much of the discussion about forests and climate change has centeredon carbon sequestration for mitigation; however, if projections by climatologists are accurate, forestlandowners may find it difficult to maintain the health and productivity of their stands. Nonetheless, weface an uncertain future and land managers should guard against under-reacting or over-reacting to theuncertainty about future climates—we need to strike a balance. The ability of forest trees to toleratestresses has both genetic and environmental components which can be altered by forest management.To maintain healthy and productive forests, landowners and forest managers need information on managementoptions available to adapt forests to future climates. Our goal is to provide this information.QuestionsWe are particularly interested in understanding the potential effects of climate change onnatural and planted forests in the western United States. Key questions include:l How will climate change affect the physiology and development of western tree species?l How will climate change affect the health and productivity of natural and planted forests?l To what extent should forest management activities be altered in response to climate change?llincluding decision-support tools thatwill describe management optionsfor meeting a range of managementobjectives under alternative climatechange scenarios.Strategic plan for fillingimportant information gaps.Workshops andpresentations toinform forestmanagers andeducators aboutgenetic andsilviculturaloptions foradapting foreststo climate change.What is Adaptation?Adaptation is the natural or directed adjustment in a system in response to theexpected effects of climate change. Because natural adaptation of forest treesand ecosystems will likely be compromised by a rapidly changing climate,forest managers may need to take specific measures to reduce harm and takeadvantage of opportunities brought about by these changes. In forests, adaptationmay be achieved through genetics or silviculture. Genetic options includereforestation with species and seed sources better adapted to future climates,tree breeding, and gene conservation. Sivilcultural options include control ofcompeting vegetation, thinning to maintain stand vigor, and protection of forestsfrom insects, diseases, and fire.How is Adaptation Different from Mitigation?Mitigation involves all measures directed toward reducing atmospheric concentrations ofgreenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide (CO 2). Planting new forests, reducing forestfires, increasing forest biomass, and substituting wood for other products are examplesof mitigation. Carbon budgets and the possibilities of income from carbon credits havebeen the focus of much discussion on forests and climate change. Although forests willAn overarching goal is to consider these questions in relation to forest treelikely play an important role in carbon markets and climate change mitigation, ‘adaptation’is our focus. Healthy and productive forests—forests that are adapted to their environ-genetics, tree breeding, and silviculture.ments and can sequester carbon—are the foundation for successful mitigation efforts.