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World Heritage Forests: Carbon Sinks Under Pressure
Place of publication | Year of publication | Collation: 
Paris | 2021 | 31 p.
ISBN/ISSN: 
ISBN 978-92-3-100480-3
Author: 
Tales Carvalho Resende; David Gibbs; Nancy Harris; Elena Osipova
Corporate author: 
UNESCO; International Union for Conservation of Nature; World Resources Institute
Region: 
Global

This report provides the first global scientific assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration in forests found in UNESCO World Heritage sites.
World Heritage forests, whose combined area of 69 million hectares is roughly twice the size of Germany, are some of the most biodiversity-rich habitats on Earth and play a crucial role in climate regulation by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. However, these forests are under increasing anthropogenic pressures, including climate change.
By combining remote sensing data with site-level monitoring, this report has quantified the climate benefits of World Heritage forests for the first time, assessed the impacts on carbon of common threats to World Heritage forests and identified sites that are net carbon sources. It therefore provides information to facilitate dialogues between policymakers and local stakeholders for the development of effective solutions aimed at maintaining the continuing role of World Heritage forests as sinks and stable carbon stores for future generations.

 

Resource Type: 
Research papers / journal articles
Theme: 
Sustainable development / sustainability
Level of education: 
Other
Keywords: 
Climate change
Climate action
Biodiversity