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5.6.3. Responses by Forests and Woodlands and Impacts on their Goods and Services
Assessment of responses and impacts must distinguish between transient and
equilibrium situations. Because forests are composed of long-lived organisms,
responses to climate change and resulting impacts may take a long time to propagate
through the system. To the extent that global change (climate and land-use change)
proceeds faster than the life cycle of many late-succession trees, transient
responses will predominate. Forest structure today is the result of activities
and events that occurred many years (>100) ago; hence, responses and parameters
measured today are not in equilibrium with present conditions. Many state variables,
such as carbon pools, are expected to change with a time delay. Furthermore,
forest responses to climate change and resulting impacts may extend longer than
the change in climate.
5.6.3.1. Responses and Impacts: Carbon Storage
There are numerous ways in which forests respond to climate change and other
pressures. These responses affect their ability to store carbon. Responses include
changes in species distribution, NPP, NEP, and NBP; pests and disease outbreaks;
and elevated CO2, as well as changes in climate variability and weather
extremes.
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