Everybody is talking about global warming these days. Raise your hand if you have Al Gore fatigue. But with everybody talking, we like to listen to the scientists. And what better group to listen to than "concerned scientists."

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has some great information on their website about the role that forests can play in combating climate change. We hit the highlights below, but you can check out the whole shebang here.

• Slow deforestation internationally through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and other international investments in forest conservation.
• Create a carbon market that recognizes domestic forest carbon values and creates strong incentives for reducing emissions in the U.S. by protecting and restoring natural forests.
  
• Manage timber production forests for carbon and other environmental values.
• Preserve the integrity of mature forests when managing for timber or biomass.
• Maintain historical fire regimes.
• Maintain environmental safeguards on U.S. public forest lands.