These guidelines have been prepared to assist forest managers to better assess and respond to climate change challenges and opportunities at the forest management unit level. The actions they propose are relevant to all kinds of forest managers - such as individual forest owners, private forest enterprises, public-sector agencies, indigenous groups and community forest organisations. They are applicable in all forests types and regions and for all management objectives.

This document complements a set of guidelines prepared by FAO in 2010 to support policy-makers in integrating climate change concerns into new or existing forest policies and national forests programmes.