Vulnerability of Zimbabwe forests to global climate change

Abstract

The impacts of global climate change on forest distribution was evaluated using the Holdridge life zone and GISS general circulation model scenarios. Across Zimbabwe, 17 to 18% of the total land area is projected to shift from subtropical thorn woodland and subtropical dry forest to tropical very dry forest under the GISS scenario. The projected shift in forest distribution is attributable to a future decline in precipitation patterns and an increase in ambient temperature.