Primary Forests and Climate Program

Red Panda in a tree
PUBLICATIONS:

PUBLICATIONS:

Peer-reviewed research published in science's most prestigious journals
About the project:

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Bringing together world leading researchers, NGOs, and practitioners
SCIENCE & POLICY:

SCIENCE & POLICY:

Making the case for protecting the world's primary forests and intact forest landscapes
CASE STUDY:

CASE STUDY:

Supporting livelihoods and protecting red panda habitat in Nepal
PROJECT THEME:

PROGRAM THEME:

Social science research supporting primary forest conservation & community livelihoods
CASE STUDY:

CASE STUDY:

Connecting Indigenous Peoples' well-being & livelihoods with primary forest protection
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Primary Forests and Climate Program

Gaining insight into the contributions of primary forests to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.

The Primary Forests and Climate Program provides information, publications, and decision-support tools on the values of primary forests and the ecosystem service benefits they provide to society, as well as policy options in support of their protection. The program provides ongoing research and publications to inform science as a collaborative endeavour between researchers, practitioners and community organisations.

The importance of primary forests

'Primary forests' are those still dominated by natural processes where industrial land use has yet to impact. They are irreplaceable sanctuaries for much of the world's biodiversity, play a significant role in global climate, and support the livelihoods of indigenous custodians.

About the Program

The Primary Forest & Climate Program is a collaboration among research institutes, civil society organisations, and First Nations Peoples at the forefront of addressing what is one of the world’s most pressing problems, which lies at the nexus of the climate and biodiversity crises: how to protect the world’s remaining primary forests.
Red panda banner

Case studies

The project focussed on seven case study sites that host important primary forests and endangered species.

Project publications

The Primary Forests and Climate project generated a number of project publications, articles, and policy briefs. Access articles by case study, subject area, or publication type.
Kayapo Man

Project themes

Key themes for the Primary Forests and Climate Project.

Forest carbon

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Forest assurance schemes

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Micro-economic valuation

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Latest publications

Tree structure and diversity shape the biomass of primary temperate mountain forests

Primary forests are spatially diverse terrestrial ecosystems with unique characteristics, being naturally regenerative and heterogeneous, which supports the stability of their carbon storage through the accumulation of live and dead biomass. Yet, little is known about the interactions between biomass stocks, tree genus diversity and structure across a temperate montane primary forest.
Global forest sinks of carbon are critical to mitigating climate change

The enduring world forest carbon sink

The uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) by terrestrial ecosystems is critical for moderating climate change. To protect the carbon sink, land management policies are needed to limit deforestation, promote forest restoration and improve timber-harvesting practices.
Beech Tree

Primary forest carbon key to achieving Europe’s Green Deal 2030

Restoration of forest ecosystems by allowing continued growth of regenerating forests, active restoration measures, and re-connecting fragmented remnants across landscapes, will provide crucial mitigation benefits that contribute to emissions reduction targets as well as existing and future co-benefits.
Red panda in forest

Forest governance for sustainable communities and red panda conservation

Building the capacity of marginalised groups by increasing their skills and raising awareness about sustainable forest management could have tangible impacts on the ground, including the protection and conservation of Nepal’s unique flora and fauna into an uncertain and difficult future.

Policy brief: Conservation connectivity and the biodiversity-climate nexus

Connectivity between conservation areas is vital for protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems and can play a key role in supporting national responses to climate change, in Australia and around the world. Through a National Conservation Corridors Framework Australia could meet both climate and biodiversity outcomes and protect First Nations cultural heritage.