Ecosystem services and climate change: Understanding the differences and identifying opportunities for forest carbon

There are a number of misunderstandings about “ecosystem services” and “climate change” and these terms are often used incorrectly to describe different concepts. These concepts address different issues and objectives but have some important integrating themes relating to carbon and carbon sequestration. In this paper, we provide definitions and distinctions between ecosystem services and climate change. We describe some of the emerging markets for ecosystem services including carbon, water, wetland mitigation and species conservation banking and some of the national initiatives to address climate change with carbon markets. We also discuss some of the potential effects of climate change on forest ecosystems in the USA. Finally, we develop the concept of using an ecosystem services marketplace and the potential for mitigating climate change specifically focusing on the emerging markets for carbon. This integration of ecosystem services and climate change may provide some new opportunities for forest landowners and managers to enhance forest stewardship in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through forest carbon sequestration.