Exploring the role of forest resources in reducing community vulnerability to the heat effects of climate change

Abstract

While the growing literature on forest ecosystem services has examined the value and significance of a range ofservices, our understanding of the health-related benefits of ecosystem services from forests is still limited. Tocharacterize the role of forest resources in reducing community vulnerability to the heat effects of climatechange, a general index of heat vulnerability (HEVI) was developed through Principle Components Analysis(PCA) and subsequently used within ANVOA and Poisson regression to assess the relationship between theamount and type of forest resources (species, management regime, spatial pattern) and a county's vulnerabilityto the heat effects of climate change. Results of the ANOVA showed significant differences in the extent and characteristicsof forests among counties experiencing different levels of heat vulnerability. The Poisson regressionusing county heatmortality as the dependent variable found forest characteristics to have a significant influenceon heat mortality when other determinants of vulnerability were controlled. A negative and significant relationshipwas specifically found between forest area and heat related mortality, which supports the hypothesis thatthe extent of forest coverage helps to alleviate vulnerability associatedwith heat effects. These findings have importantimplications for understanding the role of forest ecosystemservices in reducing a community's vulnerabilityto the heat effects of climate change. Findings will also be useful in guiding land use planning andpreserving desirable forest characteristics to help communities adapt to climate change.

Citation

Walton, Z.L.; Poudyal, N.C.; Hepinstall, J.; Johnson Gaither, C.; Boley, B.B. 2015. Exploring the role of forest resources in reducing community vulnerability to the heat effects of climate change. Forest Policy and Economics. Vol. 71: 94-102, 9 p. DOI:10.1016/j.forpol.2015.09.001