More than mitigation: The role of forests in climate adaptation

SCIENCE • February 12, 2026

Planting, maintaining, and restoring forests are among the suite of strategies used to mitigate climate change through carbon storage. However, forests can also contribute to climate adaptation by cooling the local environment, altering hydrology, and improving human health and well-being. Reek et al. synthesized data and findings on forests’ effects on temperature and hydrology and discuss how these effects vary depending on the environmental context, with implications for forest management and climate adaptation planning.