Climate change and Australian production forests

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Forestry

Australia has a highly diverse and variable climate and its forests evolved under a relatively high level of climatic variation. However, human-induced changes in climate are likely to exceed historical ranges of variability and rates of change, and have effects on forests well beyond the experience of forest managers. These conditions will require implementation of management practices appropriate to a changing climate. This paper provides an overview of the potential changes in climate in key forest-growing regions; current knowledge of the impacts of climate change on Australian forests, forest industries and forest-dependent communities; adaptation options; and approaches to potential climate change challenges.