The Impact of Climate Change on Non Timber Forest Products in Zambia
THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON NON TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS
Introduction
Over the years, there have been growing concerns over the maintaining and sustainability of the ecosystem. One of the areas that have not been left out is the growing need to monitor forest management. Natural changes such as climate change cause variations in the nature and quality of products in these forests. The areas of interest in this case are the non-timber forest products which are becoming of extreme importance in today’s world economy. Although industrialized countries are responsible for the accumulation of green house gas emissions, the effects of global warming are most severe in the less developed countries of which Zambia is no exception. Climate change has posed many challenges on different sectors of the economy. One of the major resources affected by climatic changes is forests, forestry products non timber forest products. The main essence of this essay is to discuss the impact of climate change on non timber forest products in Zambia. The paper will have an overview of what climate change and non timber products are after which it will delve into the effects climate change has on non timber products in Zambia followed by a substantial conclusion carrying with it essential recommendations.
Forests, Non Timber Forest Products and climate Change
A forest refers to a dense growth of trees, together with other plants covering a large area of lands covered with trees. A forest is an ecosystem which is a community of plants and animals interacting with the physical environment. Forests are vital environmental and economic resources for supporting natural systems and improving people’s livelihoods. They play an important role in the climate system. Trees are not just carbon stores. Forests are home to the people who are entirely or partly dependent on forests for their livelihood. Thousands of people in Zambia live in and around forests; more than half of them are tribal and
Introduction
Over the years, there have been growing concerns over the maintaining and sustainability of the ecosystem. One of the areas that have not been left out is the growing need to monitor forest management. Natural changes such as climate change cause variations in the nature and quality of products in these forests. The areas of interest in this case are the non-timber forest products which are becoming of extreme importance in today’s world economy. Although industrialized countries are responsible for the accumulation of green house gas emissions, the effects of global warming are most severe in the less developed countries of which Zambia is no exception. Climate change has posed many challenges on different sectors of the economy. One of the major resources affected by climatic changes is forests, forestry products non timber forest products. The main essence of this essay is to discuss the impact of climate change on non timber forest products in Zambia. The paper will have an overview of what climate change and non timber products are after which it will delve into the effects climate change has on non timber products in Zambia followed by a substantial conclusion carrying with it essential recommendations.
Forests, Non Timber Forest Products and climate Change
A forest refers to a dense growth of trees, together with other plants covering a large area of lands covered with trees. A forest is an ecosystem which is a community of plants and animals interacting with the physical environment. Forests are vital environmental and economic resources for supporting natural systems and improving people’s livelihoods. They play an important role in the climate system. Trees are not just carbon stores. Forests are home to the people who are entirely or partly dependent on forests for their livelihood. Thousands of people in Zambia live in and around forests; more than half of them are tribal and
References: Environmental Council of Zambia(2008), Environmental Outlook Report. ECZ: Lusaka. Food and Agriculture Organisation (2002), Trees for Life: Forests and Food Security and Environmental Protection. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations: Rome. Food and Agriculture Organisation (2003), Forests: sources of life. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations: Rome. Food and Agriculture Organization(2006), Fire Management Global Assessment 2005: Food and Agriculture Organization Forestry Paper 151. (Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome) Food and Agriculture Organisation (2008), Forest Management in Africa. FAO regional office for Africa: Accra Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001) Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge