Forests and Climate Change in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

This document is part of the publication series of FAO’s Forest and Climate Change Programme. The programme works to strengthen countries’ capacities to mitigate and adapt to climate change through actions consistent with sustainable forest management and to promote regional cooperation and international policy development related to forests and climate change. The primary objective of this document is to provide an overview of forest and climate change issues, actions and areas for cooperation in the Eastern European and Central Asian countries. The countries covered in this publication are highly diverse ecologically and socio-economically, but share two distinct features that make them particularly vulnerable to climate change: the transition zone between closed forests and woodlands and forest steppe – a zone highly susceptible to drought - runs through these countries; and, with the exception of Turkey, these countries are in a phase of social and economic transition. Despite these facts, these countries are underrepresented in joint research programmes and international deliberations on climate change. This publication will raise awareness of the specific needs of these countries regarding forests and climate change, in particular regarding climate change adaptation but also mitigation, and will provide a point of departure for identifying and catalyzing regional action to complement and enhance national efforts.