Forest and wetland conservation in a changing climate: Global trends and local actions

Abstract

Forests and wetlands are also critical ecosystems that are harbored by biodiversity, are modulated by climate, and are supplied with vital ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water filtration, and flood mitigation. Collectively more than 1.3 trillion tons of carbon are held by them, with approximately 25% of the global carbon capture being captured by tropical forests alone. Only 6% of the Earth’s surface is covered by wetlands. 40% of all species are harbored by them, and carbon is stored by them at 10 times the rate of terrestrial forests. Climate change is rapidly changing its structure and functions. Forest degradation and wetland loss are being driven by increasing global temperatures, unpredictable precipitation trends, more frequent wildfires, and sea level rise, with an estimated 4.7 million hectares of forest area being lost every year and 35% of the world’s wetlands since 1970 being lost. Global forest and wetland conservation trends under climate stress are summarized by this review, and the efficacy of global frameworks such as RESS+, the Ramsar Convention, and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches is assessed. It also features local community-led conservation strategies with proven results, including Nepal’s participatory forest management and Indonesia’s mangrove rehabilitation projects. The methodology used in this literature review is sourced from Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Sci-enceDirect database. Although advances have been made, much remains to be done, including closing the financing gap, improving governance, and reconciling land use conflicts. The review concludes by recommending combined climate-resilient conservation strategies that prioritize cross-sector cooperation, technological instruments (e.g., GIS remote sensing), and indigenous knowledge. Strengthening both global and local measures is essential to protect these ecosystems from mounting climate threats.