Global heating has caused 'shocking' changes in forests across the Americas, studies find

[turbinetree]

Trees are advancing into the Arctic tundra and retreating from boreal forests further south, where stunting and die-offs are expected

Oliver Milman
Wed 10 Aug 2022 11.00 EDT

Forests from the Arctic to the Amazon are transforming at a “shocking” rate due to the climate crisis, with trees advancing into previously barren tundra in the north while dying off from escalating heat farther south, scientists have found.

Global heating, along with changes in soils, wind and available nutrients, is rapidly changing the composition of forests, making them far less resilient and prone to diseases, according to a series of studies that have analyzed the health of trees in north and South America.

Many areas of forest are now becoming more susceptible to ferocious wildfires, causing the release of further greenhouse gases from these vast carbon stores that heat the planet even more. “It’s like humans have lit a match and we are now seeing the result of that,” said Roman Dial, a biologist at Alaska Pacific University.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/10/forests-changes-global-heating-arctic-amazon-studies

[chowder66]

1. K&R

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. I worry about what trees will be left on my place for my grandchildren.

Right now, I have more different kinds of hardwoods than I can name. There are some beautiful old white oaks here that I'd hate to have to salvage as lumber. Already, quite a few red oaks have died and I'm afraid that might be related to climate change. Likewise for beech. Red elms and tulip poplars seem to be doing ok, but there are fewer sassafras trees than a couple of decades ago.

The forests 100 miles or so south of me don't look the same.

[2naSalit]

3. I have come to the conclusion...

That making plans for anytime beyond ten years from now with the mindset that things will be anything like what we have now is pipe-dreaming. Most everything we take for granted now will soon become unobtainable luxuries.

I'm up here in headwaters country and it's not looking good, now.