Forests are essential natural resources that provide an extensive array of ecological, economic, and social benefits. They play a pivotal role in governing the carbon component of our atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, forests serve as crucial carbon sinks, reducing greenhouse gases and mitigating climate change. Additionally, they are also home to countless species, offering habitats that support biodiversity and promote ecosystem resilience. Forests also regulate hydrological cycles, contributing to soil moisture availability, preventing soil erosion, and ensuring that local climates are stabilized, thereby supporting agriculture and other human activities.

Despite their significance, forests are facing numerous challenges due to global warming and recent wildfires. Notably, forests, which have historically acted as carbon sinks, are increasingly becoming net carbon emitters because of recent unprecedentedly large-scale wildfires, pest spreads, and other disturbances amplified by rising temperatures. In warming environments, such as during heatwaves or droughts, forests absorb heat, depleting soil and vegetation moisture, which in turn amplifies forest heat in the short term, even though forests have a long-term cooling effect. As temperatures rise, forests become more vulnerable to wildfires and pest infestations, further increasing carbon emissions. The levels of natural carbon emissions far exceed the emissions from industry.

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Earth Observations: However, most of our carbon policies, including carbon offset projects still consider forests as carbon sinks without considering warming environments. This may increase the fire risks. If large-scale wildfires occur, for example, in boreal forests, where Canada or Siberia are located and the world’s largest forest loss occurs due to wildfires, there is little that humans can do to reduce carbon emissions. The carbon emissions from massive wildfires are hundreds of times greater than what our economy could absorb or we can sequester naturally. However, because hydrological and thermal observations on forest fuel conditions have not yet been provided, we face uncertainty about whether our carbon management increases wildfire spreads or carbon sequestration. Accordingly, we urge to develop new satellite products at the institutional levels to preemptively manage disasters.

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Forestation policies and carbon offset regimes also have direct and indirect effects on Indigenous Peoples and the ecosystems they inhabit. Nature-based solutions, while well-intentioned, sometimes end up victimizing the safety and livelihoods of Indigenous communities living in forests, contrary to the original intention and purpose of such policies. We want to address carbon mitigation benefits from grazing and harvesting activities of Indigenous Peoples.

The economic and political challenges surrounding forest conservation are also considerable. Although the green economy has grown steadily over the past two decades, and major political parties and corporations have pledged to plant billions of trees to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the actual effectiveness of these efforts remains unclear and such forestation may backfire in warming environments. Incentives provided by government agencies and corporate promotional activities are often questioned by non-profit watchdogs and the UNFCCC for their real impact on carbon reduction.

These threats highlight the urgency of implementing adaptive forest management practices that consider our changing environments. By enhancing communication between science and policy makers, promoting sustainable land use, and addressing the needs of Indigenous and local communities, we can ensure that forests continue to provide their invaluable benefits for generations to come.