In the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, climate change is subtly eroding the health of pine and fir trees. The effect could be a portent of severe tree die-offs to come.

Ecologists have been tracking the fate of more than 21,000 individual trees since 1983 as part of a project to study forest ecology at different elevations in the Californian mountains. When Phillip van Mantgem and Nathan Stephenson of the US Geological Survey in Three Rivers, California, looked at the first 22 years of this record, they noticed that mortality rates of both pine and fir trees had increased at an average of 3% a year, nearly doubling overall (Ecology Letters, DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01080.x). The increased death rates were seen at all but the highest elevations. Meanwhile, the rate at which new trees established did not change.

Hopes that planting trees could absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and so help to sl
>ow down global warming look set to be dashed.

he Kyoto Protocol to halt climate change is based on a scientific fallacy, according to the first results of CarboEurope, a Europe-wide programme that has pioneered research into the carbon budget.

The protocol says that countries can help meet their targets for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases over the next decade by planting forests to soak up carbon dioxide. But the soil in these "Kyoto forests" will actually release more carbon than the growing trees absorb in the first 10 years, the new research shows.

"Countries will be able to claim carbon credits for the forests. But that won't reflect what is happening in the atmosphere," says Riccardo Valentini of the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy. He presented the CarboEurope data last week in Valencia, Spain.

The project's revelations could embarrass governments now meeting in New Delhi to discuss implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Earlier in October, Italy announced plans to achieve between 10 and 40 per cent of its emission reductions target for 2012 through forest planting. But now its own scientists are warning that these sinks might not work.

Global Initiative on Forests and Climate

How will it work?

The Australian Government is providing $200 million for ‘Global Initiative on Forests and Climate'. This funding will be used to support projects in selected developing countries (particularly, but not exclusively, in the South-East Asia and Pacific regions) to:

• build technical capacity to assess and monitor forest resources, and to develop national forest management plans;



• put in place effective regulatory and law enforcement arrangements to protect forests, including through preventing illegal logging;



• promote the sustainable use of forest resources and diversify the economic base of forest-dependent communities;



• support practical research into the drivers of deforestation;



• encourage reforestation of degraded forest areas;



• develop and deploy the technology and systems needed to help developing countries monitor and produce robust assessments of their forest resources;


• pilot approaches to providing real financial incentives to countries and communities to encourage sustainable use of forests and reduce destruction of forests.

These projects will be developed in cooperation with regional countries and relevant international organisations including the World Bank. They will reflect the priorities of the countries concerned, while seeking to achieve the maximum possible benefit for forest management and the global climate.

In relation to the provision of incentives to developing countries for sustainable forestry practices and reducing net forest loss, we expect to explore a range of approaches that reflect the differing needs and circumstances of different countries. However, a common element of any incentives is that they will be provided only on the achievement of pre-agreed forest sustainability milestones (e.g. agreed reductions in national deforestation rates). Measurement of achievement of these milestones will be underpinned by the investment in the technology and systems to robustly monitor forest resources.

Collaboration

Effectively tackling the issue of global deforestation will require a huge investment from governments and businesses around the world. The Australian Government will therefore be working closely with governments and businesses from other developed countries to build support for and help in the delivery of this global initiative, so that we can harness the collective effort required.

The contributions that other countries may make will obviously be a matter for them, but we will be talking to key countries about the initiative over the next few weeks. Those discussions will also address the most effective means for countries to mutually identify areas and projects for joint activity, and how best to form clusters of partners to undertake those activities.

As a soon as we have a good initial picture of the views of key countries and others, we will decide how best to proceed with this initiative, including through engaging key Ministers from these countries.

Planning and delivery of the Initiative in Australia will involve a whole of government effort, including through the Environment, Foreign Affairs (including AusAID) and Forestry Departments.

Working with both developed and developing countries the Australian Government's $200 million investment will:

• support new forest planting


• limit destruction of the world's remaining forests


• promote sustainable forest management


• encourage contributions from other countries.

• Indonesian forests partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - 9 September 2007


• Australia joins forces with the World Bank to reduce deforestation -

• 
  Indonesian forests partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  >
  - 9 September 2007
  >


• 
  Australia joins forces with the World Bank to reduce deforestation
  >
  -
  > 23 July 2007


• $10 million to help protect Indonesia's forests - 23 July 2007


• New global system to monitor forests - 23 July 2007


• Australia and Indonesia to Work Together on Deforestation Initiative - 9 April 2007


• Global Initiative on Forests and Climate - Joint Press Release by the Australian and Indonesian Governments, 9 April 2007


• Australia and United States to Work Together on Deforestation Initiative - 7 April 2007


• Australia to Lead the World: Global Initiative on Forests and Climate - 29 March 2007


• Global Initiative on Forests and Climate - Statement by the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources


• Launch Video

Find out more

Climate change has become a frequently discussed issue over the past years. Climate change can be caused by internal and external forces like the Earth’s orbit, solar radiation and greenhouse gas concentrations. The ice age is an example of climate change. Recently, the focus of our concern is the effect humanity is having on the climate.

Researchers are debating as to whether the cause of our current climate change is because of humans or radiative forcing. Resources are also being used to find methods of climate control. The only ways we hope to impact our climate is to refrain from pollution, recycle and stop using the natural resources at the rate we are.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary gas causing global climate change. Trees retain the carbon (C) from the CO2
molecule and release oxygen (O2) into the atmosphere. The carbon makes up half the dry weight of a tree.

Forests are the world's second largest carbon reservoirs (oceans are the largest). Unlike oceans, however, we can grow new forests.
Planting new trees remains one of the cheapest, most effective means of drawing excess CO2 from the atmosphere.
One acre of forestland will sequester between 150 - 200 tons of CO2 in its first 40 years.

Anticipated Effects of Climate Change

Extreme weather, such as hurricanes and typhoons, will occur more often and become more violent. Increased flooding in some areas. Increased drought in others. 100-degree plus days will become more common. Tropical diseases such as malaria will become more widespread. Melting ice caps and glaciers will cause sea level to rise. Rising sea levels will cause coastal flooding.

What can you do about it?

hange your lifestyle: Our Personal Climate Change Calculator reveals just how much impact your
lifestyle is having on the planet and how many new trees it would take to offset that debt.

Involve Your Company: Let us work with you to design a program that can help your company go "climate neutral." Learn more!

Plant Trees in a Global ReLeaf Forest:
Planting 30 trees each year in a Global ReLeaf Forest offsets approximately 10 tons of carbon dioxide, the average annual emissions for a
U.S. citizen. Learn more!