Book contents
- Trees and Global Warming
- Trees and Global Warming
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- The Value of Forests
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Global Warming and Forests in the Anthropocene
- 2 The Gases That Cause the Greenhouse Effect
- 3 Carbon and Photochemical Oxidant Cycles
- 4 Biogeochemical and Biogeophysical Factors that Affect Trees
- 5 Trees in a Warming World
- 6 Forests of the World
- 7 Knowledge Base for Forests in Cooling and Warming
- 8 Role of Forests in Mitigating Global Warming
- 9 Bringing It All Together
- Index
- References
8 - Role of Forests in Mitigating Global Warming
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 June 2020
Book contents
- Trees and Global Warming
- Trees and Global Warming
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- The Value of Forests
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Global Warming and Forests in the Anthropocene
- 2 The Gases That Cause the Greenhouse Effect
- 3 Carbon and Photochemical Oxidant Cycles
- 4 Biogeochemical and Biogeophysical Factors that Affect Trees
- 5 Trees in a Warming World
- 6 Forests of the World
- 7 Knowledge Base for Forests in Cooling and Warming
- 8 Role of Forests in Mitigating Global Warming
- 9 Bringing It All Together
- Index
- References
Summary
Global deforestation is increasing rapidly from timber harvesting, charcoal burning, fires, beetle infestations, drought, disturbances, and conversion of forests to managed land for agriculture and pasture. This reduces the global carbon sink and may increase global temperature. It was noted in the previous chapter, however, that observed average global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations are lower than would be expected from model estimates. This was attributed to a long-term global vegetation growth and greening effect, caused by increased photosynthesis and increased transpiration. Forest trees probably constitute most of the vegetation responsible. The potential for global greening has greatly increased interest in global large-scale efforts to prevent deforestation, stop forest degradation, restore forests (reforestation), plant new forests (afforestation), and manage existing forests.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Trees and Global WarmingThe Role of Forests in Cooling and Warming the Atmosphere, pp. 280 - 302Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020
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