Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Forests, Climate Change, and Our Future

Explore the complex relationship between forests and climate change in this 90-minute AGU conference talk. Delve into the historical context of forest management as a means to mitigate global warming, tracing its roots through European colonialism and the emergence of ecology and meteorology as scientific disciplines. Examine the evolution of climate models to include forest representations and their interactions with the atmosphere. Analyze the challenges in interdisciplinary communication between ecologists and climate scientists, and consider the importance of viewing forests beyond their climate benefits. Reflect on the need for a more holistic, interdisciplinary approach to understanding nature, inspired by 19th-century natural philosophers like Alexander von Humboldt. Gain insights into the past, present, and future of forest-climate science, and learn how to navigate the complexities of this field to develop a more comprehensive understanding of forests' role in our changing world.