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Natural rubber contributions to adaptation to climate change

XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022









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    Natural rubber contributions to mitigation of climate change
    XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
    2022
    Also available in:
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    The potential of natural rubber to contribute to climate change mitigation is often overlooked. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize available research, mainly from the results of a recent workshop organised by IRSG in collaboration with CIFOR/FTA, IRRDB and CIRAD. Studies have been conducted on the potential contribution of rubber plantations to climate change mitigation in diverse situations, generally focusing on carbon stocked in tree biomass above and below ground. They show that rubber plantations constitute carbon stocks that can be compared to some agroforestry or forestry systems. However, the global GHG emissions balance needs to take into account the effects of conversion to rubber plantation, which is strictly dependent on the previous land use. Conversion of forests or swidden agriculture can lead to substantial carbon emissions especially if swidden agriculture displaced by rubber in turn translates to an area where it converts natural forest. Such studies show the importance of promoting the renewal of existing plantations and to increase productivity, in rubber and associated crops, to reduce the need for additional land. Rubber plantations can also be an effective mitigation measure on degraded lands. There is a considerable potential in use of rubber wood, largely untapped, that would reduce the need for additional wood collection in forests and for timber plantations. Finally, natural rubber and rubber wood can substitute other products highly dependent of fossil energies and are themselves carbon sinks. Keywords: Climate change, Policies, Economic Development, Knowledge management, Value chain ID: 3486615
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    Creating biodiversity safeguards for nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation
    XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
    2022
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    There have been many trials and pilot experiments to mainstream biodiversity into the climate change regime through initiatives like REDD+ and Ecosystem based approaches. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are being viewed as yet another opportunity to synergize climate and biodiversity actions. However, NbS is being promoted more as a climate solution than a biodiversity solution, while the word “nature” makes it seem like it may be good also for biodiversity. Past experiences show that not all forest-based projects conserved biodiversity, while some turned out to be harmful due to their “mitigation-centric” approach. Carbon sequestration by ecosystems is just a part of the overall services it provides, which include a range of provisioning, supporting, regulating and cultural services. All these are not accounted for when we focus on mitigation. This has led to a fear among the conservation community whether these solutions actually focus on biodiversity or just climate. It is important that NbS considers the overall value of nature beyond its carbon sink capability. Therefore, the socio-ecological systems mechanism needs to be well studied, both through the biodiversity and climate lens, to keep proper safety nets for biodiversity and dependent communities. In this background, this paper discusses: (i) trade-offs associated with former forest-based mechanisms under the climate regime; (ii) path shown by different organizations and researchers for the implementation of NbS; and (iii) ways to introduce biodiversity safeguards for NbS, considering social-ecological interactions. NbS is seen as a broad-spectrum solution and must advocate biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. NbS is taking an important position in both CBD and UNFCCC negotiations and future COPs will be instrumental in deciding the guidelines for NbS. This paper will add to the ongoing debate using also the available literature on NbS since its inception. Keywords: Climate change, Biodiversity conservation, Deforestation and forest degradation, Landscape management, Sustainable forest management ID: 3486767
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    Vulnerability assessment of Ukrainian forests to climate change as the base of nature-based solutions for mitigation and adaptation
    XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
    2022
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    A wide range of climatic conditions in Ukraine causes significant regional differences in the vulnerability of forests to climate change. The mitigation/adaptation strategy should be based on assessments of their vulnerability at the regional level. Phytoindication model by prof. Y.P. Didukh (1994) was used to assess forest vulnerability. The model gives a quantitative estimation of climate as one of major environmental factors affecting the distribution, condition and productivity of vegetation on the base of climate-related indicators – continentality, humidity and frost. For these indicators climate suitability scales were calculated. Modeling was carried out for main forest species: Pinus sylvestris L., Quercus robur L., Fagus sylvatica L., Picea abies (L.) H.Karst, Betula pendula Roth., Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. and Robinia pseudoacacia L. Climate projections based on the Euro CORDEX time series (up to 2100) and 2 scenarios of the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP 4.5, RCP 8.5) were used. By means of Q-GIS the maps containing zones of suitability to climate for each of studied species were created for current climate conditions and future time series. The directions for strengthening the mitigation and adaptive capacity of forests are considered. The mainstream for nature-based solutions is adaptive sustainable forest management, which provides: 1)optimization of land use structure and increasing the forested area; 2) development and implementation of a national forestry program considering the priorities of climate change and low-carbon development; 3) using wood to substitute greenhouse gas intensive-materials and fossil fuels; 4) best forestry practices through the introduction of modern Climate Smart Forestry principles. Keywords: RCP 4.5, RCP 8.5, Euro CORDEX, climate trends, adaptive forest management ID: 3487120

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