 What is deforestation, degradation and climate changeDeforestation: It involves the long-term permanent loss of forest cover and involves transformation to another land use. Such a loss can only be caused and maintained by continuous disturbance of human or natural origin (FAO, 2001). Forest degradation: The long-term reduction in the overall potential supply of forest benefits, which includes carbon, timber, biodiversity and other goods and services (FAO, 2003). Climate change: It refers to a statistically significant variation in either the average state of climate or its variability, persisting for an extended period of time (usually decades or more). Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcing, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in atmospheric composition or land use (IPCC, 2001). Effects of deforestation and degradation on climate change Forests have a vital role to play in the fight against global warming. Forests absorb and store carbon in their trees and soil. But if forests are cleared or disturbed, that carbon is released in the form of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. “Up to a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation and forest degradation” (WWF Scotland, 2008). Importance of forests in climate change Each year, mature and growing forests store a quarter of total anthropogenic emissions in their wood and soils. Logging is so bad for the climate that when trees are cut down, they release the carbon they store into the atmosphere, where it mixes with greenhouse gases from other sources and contributes to global warming. climate, which induces even more climate change. The timescale of trees: Deforestation emits greenhouse gases...... middle of paper ......are also affected by forests. Overall, this effect tends to decrease surface temperatures. Emissions from deforestation and degradation increase the carbon stored in forest ecosystems. Factors responsible for increasing emissions include unsustainable agriculture, illegal logging, poor forest management practices and lack of natural resource management institutions. Degradation poses a major threat to biodiversity, the stability of ecosystems and the ability of a society to function. Due to the interconnectivity between ecosystems at all scales, degradation triggers destructive processes that can have cascading effects across the entire biosphere. Biomass loss due to vegetation clearing and increased soil erosion produces greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and climate change. The impacts of degradation therefore extend well beyond local or regional scales..