Boreal forests form Earth's largest terrestrial biome. They are rich in ecosystem and landscape diversity, though characterized by relatively few plant species, as compared to other forested regions. The long term viability and sustainability of boreal forests is influenced by many factors. They are subject to interruptions at intervals by large-scale natural disturbances, and increasingly by human activities. Boreal ecosystem development is typically a slow process; hence rapid changes in the global environment may invoke complex responses. Many industrial nations border, or lie within, boreal regions, deriving much of their economic wealth and culture from the forests. The response of boreal forests to changes in the global environment - whether caused by direct human activity or by indirect changes such as the anticipated changes in climate - are therefore of considerable international interest, both for their policy implications and their scientific challenges. This book which contains almost 50 peer-reviewed papers from a world-wide group of experts assembled under the auspices of IBFRA, the International Boreal Forest Research Association, covers topics which will stimulate further research and the development of constructive policies for improved management and conservation of global boreal forest resources.

Featuring contributions from leading experts in the field, Climate Change and Managed Ecosystems examines the effects of global climate change on intensively constructed or reconstructed ecosystems, focusing on land use changes in relation to forestry, agriculture, and wetlands including peatlands. The book begins by discussing the fragility of ecosystems in the face of changing climates, particularly through human caused increases in atmospheric GHGs. The chapters delineate how and why the climate has changed and what can be expected to occur in the foreseeable future. They identify the potential adaptation responses to reduce the impacts of a changing climate. Using this information as a foundation, the chapter authors examine what is known about the impacts of climate on agricultural, forested, and wetland ecosystems. They illustrate the importance of these ecosystems in the global carbon cycle and discuss the potential interaction between terrestrial and atmospheric carbon pools under changing climactic conditions. The book delineates what needs to be done to ensure continued stability in these ecosystems. It includes a description of activities that have been undertaken in the past to identify gaps in understanding GHG emissions from agriculture, forests, and wetlands and their mitigation, as well as current research initiatives to address these gaps. The book presents an overview of how economic reasoning can be applied to climate change and illustrates how terrestrial carbon-uptake credits (offset credits) operate within the Kyoto Protocol framework. By identifying gaps in the current understanding of adaptation of mitigation strategies, the book underscores the need to makemanagement of these ecosystems part of a global solution.

Globally, forest vegetation and soils are both major stores of terrestrial organic carbon, and major contributors to the annual cycling of carbon between the atmosphere and the biosphere. Forests are also a renewable resource, vital to the everyday existence of millions of people, since they provide food, shelter, fuel, raw materials and many other benefits. The combined effects of an expanding global population and increasing consumption of resources, however, may be seriously endangering both the extent and future sustainability of the world's forests. About thirty chapters cover four main themes: the role of forests in the global carbon cycle; effects of past, present and future changes in forest land use; the role of forest management, products and biomass on carbon cycling, and socio-economic impacts.

Featuring contributions from leading experts in the field, Climate Change and Managed Ecosystems examines the effects of global climate change on intensively constructed or reconstructed ecosystems, focusing on land use changes in relation to forestry, agriculture, and wetlands including peatlands. The book begins by discussing the fragility of ecosystems in the face of changing climates, particularly through human caused increases in atmospheric GHGs. The chapters delineate how and why the climate has changed and what can be expected to occur in the foreseeable future. They identify the potential adaptation responses to reduce the impacts of a changing climate. Using this information as a foundation, the chapter authors examine what is known about the impacts of climate on agricultural, forested, and wetland ecosystems. They illustrate the importance of these ecosystems in the global carbon cycle and discuss the potential interaction between terrestrial and atmospheric carbon pools under changing climactic conditions. The book delineates what needs to be done to ensure continued stability in these ecosystems. It includes a description of activities that have been undertaken in the past to identify gaps in understanding GHG emissions from agriculture, forests, and wetlands and their mitigation, as well as current research initiatives to address these gaps. The book presents an overview of how economic reasoning can be applied to climate change and illustrates how terrestrial carbon-uptake credits (offset credits) operate within the Kyoto Protocol framework. By identifying gaps in the current understanding of adaptation of mitigation strategies, the book underscores the need to make management of these ecosystems part of a global solution.