This policy brief looks at the impact climate change will have on dryland forests that are already degraded from competing land uses and from over use. To pre-empt these impacts proactive adaptation policies needs to be implemented. However this requires a clear focus on the unique attributes of the dryland forests. To maintain and enhance their contribution to climate change adaptation requires implementing policies that incorporate full-cost accounting of natural capital; investment in restoration of degraded systems; enhancing connectivity
for biodiversity responses as climate envelopes move; real-time research
and monitoring; and incentivising and enabling community-based management to build local adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change. Specific guidance on the need to deliver livelihood benefits beyond climate change adaptation is crucial.
