Forests are the principal part of the terrestrial ecosystem and have multiple functions and benefits. Forests play a unique role in the response to the climate change and have great potential. Forests have been called the largest carbon pool and the most economic carbon absorber in the terrestrial ecosystem. The carbon is mainly stored in the forest vegetation and soil in the forest ecosystem. Forest plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis and the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is converted into carbohydrate, fixed and stored in the form of biomass. That process is called forest carbon sequestration. Scientific research shows that, the growth of forest stock volume per cubic meter can absorb averagely 1.83 tons of carbon dioxide and release 1.62 tons of oxygen. The carbon content of a forest plant accounts for 50 percent of its dry weight of biomass. According to the estimate of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), out of the total 2.48 trillion tons of carbon stored in the global terrestrial ecosystem, 1.15 trillion tons is stored in forests. The report released by IPCC in 2000 said that, the forest area accounts for 27.6 percent of the world's land area, while the carbon storage of forest equals to 57 percent of the total storage in terrestrial ecosystem. At the same time, the conservation or damage of wetlands will also impact the density of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since the damage to forests and wetlands is an important emission source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the protection of them is one of essential measures to reduce the emission of greenhouse gas globally. Hence, forests and wetlands are regulators of the climate and important buffers for controlling the earth warming, and can effectively absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and slacken the global warming.

The issue of forest has important bearing on the sustainable development of the economy and society, the harmonious world, the human survival and development and the future and destiny of the human beings. It is an arduous task facing the global community to protect and develop the forest resources, protect the eco-environment and realize sustainable development. As a responsible large country, the Chinese government and its people are fulfilling its due obligations and duties in a practical way and will continuously enhance forestry development and incorporate forestry development into the global initiative of slackening global warming. While promoting forestry development and improving the eco-environment, endeavors have also been made to promote accomplishment of China 's fixed task of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission.