Methods and tools for Assessing the Vulnerability of Forests and People to Climate Change : an introduction

Abstract

Adaptation is necessary for reducing the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and societies. Various pertinent questions arise when planning and implementing adaptation in any system: What will be the impacts of climate change? To what extent is the system vulnerable? Who is vulnerable? What coping strategies exist? How can adaptation decrease impacts? What can we do to adapt? What institutional support is available to enhance adaptation? How to develop adaptation policies? (UNFCCC 2004). Many methods and tools are available to help scientists or practitioners address these questions.