18 - The Forests before Us

Summary

There is an enduring connection within the human consciousness between forests and climate, whereby forests are understood to influence climate and that clearing the woods or planting trees changes climate. From several centuries, this idea exploded onto public awareness with the belief that clearing forests improved climate. The drive for climate betterment gave way to concern for a decline in rainfall as the forests were cleared, and the nineteenth century saw repeated calls in all reaches of the world to reforest denuded lands to increase rainfall. Meteorologists, however, dismissed an influence of forests on climate, and the science of forest meteorology was forgotten. Now, forests are again recognized for their climate benefits. Like our forebears, we again talk of purposely using forests to improve climate. Protecting existing forests, restoring degraded forests, and planting new forests are seen as critical to solving the climate problem. That the biosphere is fundamental to, not separate from, climate is a core tenet of the newly emerging Earth system science. This realization is not new. It is borne from the long, controversial chronicle of forests and climate change.