Ten Strategies to Promote Climate Resilience and Sustainability of Global Forests

Abstract

Climate change and escalating human pressures erode the resilience of global forests, putting biodiversity, carbon storage, and societal well-being at risk. Fragmented, single-sector responses cannot keep pace with the speed or complexity of these threats. By synthesizing insights from resilience theory and global practices across ecological, social, and institutional dimensions, we propose 10 mutually reinforcing strategies that together provide an actionable roadmap for climate-resilient forest stewardship: (1) diversify tree species, genetic pools, and stand structures; (2) maintain natural disturbance regimes and landscape connectivity; (3) protect and conserve natural forest landscapes; (4) restore by rewilding and natural regeneration; (5) embrace adaptive forest management; (6) ensure sustainable use of forest resources; (7) strengthen monitoring and early warning systems; (8) foster continual learning and innovation; (9) broaden collaboration and community engagement; and (10) embed all actions within cohesive polycentric governance frameworks. Applied synergistically and customized to local contexts, these strategies buffer forests against climatic shocks while enhancing ecosystem services, livelihoods, and long-term biosphere sustainability. Our synthesis presents a concrete, evidence-based agenda for enhancing social-ecological resilience of forest landscapes in the face of the climate emergency. This article is categorized under: Climate, Ecology, and Conservation > Conservation Strategies Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for Adaptation Climate and Development > Sustainability and Human Well-Being.