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<p>Forests play an important part in mitigating climate change (as well as in adapting
to its impacts). Domestically, forestland is a net sink in the UK, removing 17 Mtonnes
of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2013) and the amount of carbon stored in UK trees
increased from 1990-2013. Forestry inventory projections indicate an increasing trend
in net removals by UK forests and then a decline towards mid-century as forests mature
(in mature forests carbon uptake is reduced) and more trees are harvested. Nonetheless,
forests will remain a net sink in the UK, at least beyond the middle of the century.</p><p>Forestry
policy is devolved, and all four countries have established policies for woodland
creation, co-financed through the EU Rural Development Program. The revised UK Forestry
Standard, published in November 2011 provides that ‘forest management should contribute
to climate change mitigation over the long term through the net capture and storage
of carbon in the forest ecosystem and in wood products’. The Committee on Climate
Change has estimated that by 2030 an additional 1 megaton of carbon dioxide a year
could be abated through afforestation activities.</p><p>Internationally, deforestation
causes 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reaching the goals of the New
York Declaration on Forests – ending forest loss by 2030 and restoring 350 million
hectares – is estimated to reduce between 4.5 and 8.8 billion tonnes of CO2 per year
in 2030. Over 1 billion poor people depend on forests for their livelihoods, they
provide essential ecosystem services and support up to 80 per cent of terrestrial
biodiversity. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has
taken a number of steps to mitigate forests emissions and enhance sequestration. In
the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2013-2020), all countries with
emissions reductions commitments (including the European Union) are required to account
for all forest related emissions and removals, and are therefore incentivised to sustainably
manage their forests.</p><p>For developing countries, the UNFCCC has established ‘REDD+’
as a mechanism to reduce emissions from deforestation and promote the conservation
of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest
carbon stocks by rewarding countries who protect their forests with a payment based
on verified emissions reductions. The UK’s £3.87 billion <em>International Climate
Fund </em>supports developing countries address deforestation, including programmes
which support REDD+, governance and market reforms, curbing illegal and unsustainable
use of forest resources, and investments in sustainable forestry, agriculture and
land management.</p>
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