Over the last decade, research suggesting that forests can have warming impacts in certain regions of the globe sparked debate about their role in climate. Forest conservation and restoration projects have, at times, been paused over concerns that they could contribute to climate change rather than counteract it.

However, recent research takes a global perspective to help navigate past the controversy, showing forests’ vital roles in local climate adaptation. KAUST ecologist, Thomas Crowther, has led an international team that reviewed evidence and found that, when each forest climate impact study is considered in context, native forest protection and regeneration is overwhelmingly positive for humanity and the planet.

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