Forests and climate change

Discussions on how and if forests will adapt to climate change is practically non-existent in Nepal.

Forests play an important role when it comes to climate change. Depending on different factors, they can be either sources or sinks of greenhouse gases (GHGs)—the reasons for global climate change. They release carbon into the atmosphere, stored in their biomass if poorly managed. If properly managed, they capture the atmospheric carbon and store it in their biomass, thereby helping to reduce the atmospheric carbon dioxide, one of the main GHGs responsible for climate change. In addition to that, forests provide a wide range of goods like food, timber, fibre, fuelwood, and natural medicines. They also provide multiple services: (a) regulating services, such as air quality improvement and temperature regulation; (b) supporting services, such as nutrient recycling and soil formation; and (c) cultural services, such as spiritual and recreational values.