Rodel D. Lasco and Florencia B. Pulhin
Environmental Forestry Program
Forestry Development Center
College of Forestry, University of the Philippines Los Baños
doi.org/10.57043/transnastphl.1998.5880
Abstract
Climate change is one of the most critical environmental threats mankind has ever faced. Because of their rapid biomass accumulation, tropical forests are viewed as one of the promising approaches to mitigate C in the atmosphere. The first part of the paper discusses the ways by which tropical forests could serve as C sink by conservation, expansion. and substitution. The second part provides a national estimate of the potential ofPhilippine forest lands to store and sequester C. All forest land uses are estimated to store about 1105 M tons C and sequester 34 M tons C per year. The latter is equivalent to almost 80% of total Philippine C emissions. The third part ofthe paper explores practical strategies for mitigating C through forestry interventions. These include: C·offset projects, ref ores· tation by private groups, and urban forestry. Costs of C sequestration are also estimated. Finally, recommended research topics are identified.