Perspective Chapter: Forest Degradation under Global Climate Change

Abstract

Forests cover nearly one-third of the terrestrial surface and support life with energy, raw materials, and food and offer a range of services ranging from biodiversity conservation to climate regulation. The realization of this goods and services depends on the health of these pristine ecosystems. Forest degradation diminishes the utilitarian and ecosystem potentials of the forest and assessing this at local and global scales is draught with complexities and challenges. Recently, climate change has been identified as a major factor of forest degradation across the globe. Although native forests may be adapted to disturbances to a critical threshold level, the intensification of the stress will move the forests in a new trajectory. Evaluating the cause-effect relationship of forests and climate also play determinable roles in the forest-climate loop. Such analysis is critical in identifying the factors of degradation and would be crucial in developing strategies for restoring and conserving the forest ecosystems.