The impacts of climate change and climate variability are becoming evident on forest ecosystems in the North Africa and Near east, where most of forest products support small scale, household-based enterprises and provide income and employment for rural people, especially women.

The effects of climate change are reflected in the higher incidents and severity of forest fires reported in North Africa, Lebanon and Sudan or in the growing incidence of “forest dieback” affecting vast areas of natural oak forests in Iran.

“If this threat is not addressed in time, it will impair, on the long term, the ability of forests to deliver critical goods and ecosystem services, to the detriment of the livelihoods of rural communities and others who benefit from forests” says Abdel Hamied Adam, FAO regional forestry expert.

Tackling climate change with the right policies

Climate change in arid lands of the region is already resulting in less available soil moisture, exacerbating the current situation of the already degraded land.

A depletion of soil moisture, at its turn, may cause the productivity of major forests species to decline, increasing fire risk and changing the patterns of the region’s main pests and diseases.

Despite the important role forests play in the local economies and livelihoods, forest products in the Near East and North Africa remain neglected in the policy and decision making processes of natural resources management.

“The International Day of Forests this year is a reminder, for decision makers, of the important role forests play in mitigating climate change, helping counteract its negative effects and improve local water cycles” says Abdel Hameed Abdel Hamied Adam, FAO regional forestry expert, “At the same time this Day also stresses upon the importance of managing sustainably these important resources as they can contribute to climate change when they are deforested” he adds.

New Opportunities

Many areas of the region cannot grow forests. However many areas could be reforested if policies can create conducive environment for tree planting.

On the one hand the Forests are key factors in climate change mitigation. While on the other they can contribute to climate change if they are deforested or cleared. Some countries in the region such as Egypt, Kuwait, Oman and United Arab States are building solid experience in afforestation and reclamation of desert areas, using treated waste which provides huge potential for tree planting and reversing the current trend in the forest cover decline.