An international Expert Panel was established in 2007 to undertake an assessment of the impacts of climate change on forests and forest-dependent people as well as on management and policy options for effective adaptation to climate change. This paper summarizes the main findings of the assessment, which has also revealed severe limitations in current knowledge. Much more research is needed, especially on the forest-related social and economic impacts of climate change. Despite the limitations of current knowledge, climate change is progressing too quickly to postpone actions pending the outcomes of future studies. The assessment confirms that the practices associated with sustainable forest management are likely to help reduce environmental, social and economic vulnerabilities under a wide range of potential future climatic conditions.

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An account is given of the direction, risks and potential of forest-based industries in providing majority of the world's need for forest products. On the contrary, due to such activities, deforestation has increased and has mostly taken place in developing countries, along with the effects of globalization, climate change and industrialization. It is stated that forestry activities should lead to a more integrated and holistic view to maintain a more sustainable utilization of resources and provide better avenues to improve biodiversity and other environmental services.

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