The Climate, Atmospheric Change & Forests Working Group

Forest-covered hills under dramatic clouds with blue sky peeking through.

MISSION:  The Climate, Atmospheric Change & Forests Working Group promotes the knowledge of forest ecosystems through the science and monitoring of the effects of atmospheric changes on these forests, through international cooperation and dissemination of new technologies and techniques among the cooperating countries.

THE WORKING GROUP:  Promotes the collection, exchange and dissemination of information and techniques in the field of monitoring of forest health and the evaluation of the effects of atmospheric changes on forests.Prepares publications on the state of the health of forests in North America based on the monitoring of forest health conditions in the three countries.Fosters international cooperation, in the field of detection and effects of atmospheric changes on forests, within North America among scientists and forest managers and other natural resource agencies.Fosters communication with other NAFC Working Groups and with those of other FAO Forestry Commissions.

Learn about Forest Sector Mitigation and Adaptation

DIVE into our comprehensive collection of information on greenhouse gas reduction scenarios for the forest sector.

DISCOVER how different strategies can shape our future through interactive maps, workflow descriptions, and links to resources.

What do North American Forests Look Like?

Maps of climate change mitigation scenarios

Creating representative GHG reduction scenarios requires consideration of forest growth, natural disturbances, land-use andland-use change, and societal demand for energy and products.

NAFC Map Data Sets

Data Category
Country
Timeframe
Link
Population Density
Tri-national
2020
Harvest Volume
Mexico
1990—2020
Harvest Volume
United States
1990—2020
Harvest Volume
Canada
1990—2020
Protected Areas
Canada
2020
Protected Areas
United States
1995—2024
Protected Areas
Mexico
-
Burned Areas
United States
1985—2020
Burned Areas
Mexico
1984—2022
Burned Areas
Canada
2015—2020
Aboveground Biomass
Canada
2015
Aboveground Biomass
Mexico
2015—2020
Aboveground Biomass
United States
2004
Aboveground Biomass
United States
2009—2019

How Are Comprehensive GHG Reduction Scenarios Constructed?

The workflow below gives an overview of how mitigation scenarios are designed and analyzed, which ensures continuous improvement and consideration for changing contexts.
Workflow diagram outlining forest sector GHG reduction steps from policy to scenario development and assessment.

Where Can I Learn More?

Mitigation and adaptation resources

Publications and links

For Download
North American Land Change Monitoring System
For Download
Highlights of the State of the Carbon Cycle Report for North America
For Download
Highlights of the State of the Carbon Cycle Report for North America
For Download
Highlights of the State of the Carbon Cycle Report for North America
For Download
Good Practices and Lessons Learned from the Resilience Project
For Download
Operational-Scale Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector (CBM-CFS3)
For Download
Integrated Modeling and Assessment North American Forest Carbon Dynamics Technical Report
For Download
Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector (CBM-CFS3): Archive Index Database Table and Parameter Descriptions
For Download
National Atlas of Vulnerability to Climate Change

Adaptation Toolkits

Land management forum on restoration and conservation
Link to Toolkit
Proposed adaptation options compilation
Link to Toolkit
Tree species vulnerability (drought and migration failure map)
Link to Toolkit
Plant hardiness web application
Link to Toolkit
SeedWhere potential seed zones web application
Link to Toolkit
Climate data for modelling catalogue
Link to Toolkit
Climate modeling web application
Link to Toolkit
Human-assisted migration compilation
Link to Toolkit
National vulnerability atlas
Link to Toolkit
Adaptation program - website
Link to Toolkit
Seed zone mapping report
Link to Toolkit
Tribal climate adaptation report
Link to Toolkit
Climate risk viewer - web maps
Link to Toolkit
Adaptation strategies overview
Link to Toolkit
Guidebook adaptation options - report
Link to Toolkit

Working Group Members

Carolyn Smyth
Canadian Forest Service
carolyn.smyth@canada.ca
Isabelle Aubin
Canadian Forest Service isabelle.aubin@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca
Karen Belén Rodríguez Moedano
Manager of Forests and Climate Change
CONAFOR
José Armando Alanís de la Rosa
Manager of National Forest Monitoring System
CONAFOR
jalanis@conafor.gob.mx
Rafael Mayorga Saucedo
Technical Manager of the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System
CONAFOR
rafael.mayorga@conafor.gob.mx
María de los Ángeles Soriano Luna
Specialist on Modeling and Assessment of Forest Mitigation Actions
CONAFOR
asoriano.ute@conafor.gob.mx
Craig Wayson
US Forest Service
craig.wayson@usda.gov
Grant Domke
Research Forester
US Forest Service
grant.m.domke@usda.gov
Sara Goeking
Forest Inventory and Analysis National Program Manager
US Forest Service
sara.goeking@usda.gov