Climate Change and Forests

Join our chair, Kate Humble, as we explore how citizen scientists researched the most pressing environmental issue of the age.

31% of the world's entire land mass is forest, which is home to a staggering 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. Forests also play a vital role in climate change, because they influence weather patterns, and trees capture and store carbon.

However, climate change affects the growth of trees, and this process is poorly understood by scientists.

Over the past five years Earthwatch has undertaken a global programme of forest research to determine how temperate and tropical forests are being affected by changes in climate and other human-related activities such as logging.

Based at dedicated forest research centres in China, India, Latin America, North America and Europe, Earthwatch scientists, supported by local community members and HSBC employees, carried out field work to measure the health of our forests.

This outstanding example of the power of ‘citizen science’ was part of Earthwatch’s contribution to the HSBC Climate Partnership.

Join us as we explore the findings this important research, putting the results in the context of global forest research and policy, and showing how citizen scientists have both contributed to, and benefited from, field research into the most pressing environmental issue of the age.

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