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There are two important links between forests and climate change. First, forests play an important role in regulating the earth’s temperature and weather patterns by storing large quantities of carbon and water. By destroying forests at our current rate, we are accelerating the impact of climate change induced by the burning of fossil fuels. Second, climate change is believed to affect up to two-thirds of existing forests, thereby exacerbating deforestation and its associated problems.

The Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, is the only global agreement aiming to tackle climate change. However, the emission reduction targets of the agreement are far too small to slow down global warming significantly and some measures (aimed at aiding countries to achieve their meager emission reduction targets) may even make the situation worse.

The concept of forests as carbon sinks is at the heart of Fern’s concerns. Our core objections are two-fold: firstly, carbon sinks will be used to justify increases in carbon emissions from fossil fuels and secondly they are likely to lead to the emergence of more large-scale tree plantations. The associated problems of plantations for forests and forest peoples are already well documented (find out more at www.sinkswatch.org). In addition, many respected scientists have expressed their concerns about the scientific basis of forest-related measures within the Kyoto Protocol.

Looked at together, it is clear that the measures within the Kyoto Protocol will not address the root causes of climate change or of the global forest crisis. On the contrary, they are likely to have negative impacts on forests, forest peoples and, ultimately, the global climate.

Fern’s climate campaign aims to ensure that:
• Measures taken under the Kyoto Protocol will not provide perverse incentives for establishing large-scale tree plantations
• Projects generating carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol will be beneficial for forests and forest peoples
• Climate negotiators will address the true links between forests and climate change
• Countries will refrain from using carbon sink credits to achieve their greenhouse gas emission targets.