Policy Briefs

Tropical forests influence rainfall and temperature across surrounding landscapes. Forests channel water from the ground into the air, increasing local rainfall. Forests absorb heat from the air, through transpiration, cooling temperatures downwind. New research by the University of Leeds, and other research institutions, has begun to quantify these benefits. The findings of the research highlight the local benefits of retaining natural forests with implications for policies in the agriculture, health, land, forestry and environment sectors. In this policy brief, research findings are summarised and their policy relevance is highlighted.