Changes in the use and management of forests for abating carbon emissions: issues and challenges under the Kyoto Protocol

The global carbon cycle is significantly influenced by changes in the use and management of forests and agriculture. Humans have the potential through changes in land use and management to alter the magnitude of forestcarbon stocks and the direction of forestcarbon fluxes. However, controversy over the use of biological means to absorb or reduce emissions of CO2 (often referred to as carbon sinks) has arisen in the context of the Kyoto Protocol. The controversy is based primarily on two arguments: sinks may allow developed nations to delay or avoid actions to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and the technical and operational difficulties are too threatening to the successful implementation of land use and forestry projects for providing carbon offsets. Here we discuss the importance of including carbon sinks in efforts to address global warming and the consequent additional social, environmental and economic benefits to host countries. Activities in tropical forest lands provide the lowest cost methods both ...