Forests Can't Save Us
Why planting trees can only do so much in our fight against climate change, silly humans.
Climate change is causing different impacts on forests across the United States, says a new study from the University of Florida. Rising temperatures, droughts, wildfires, and diseases are affecting trees, especially in the American West. The study, led by University of Florida Biology researchers, found that Western forests are experiencing a slowdown in productivity, while Eastern forests are growing slightly faster.
Forests are crucial for regulating Earth's climate, absorbing about 25% of human carbon emissions each year. However, the study warns that climate change is disrupting the balance, affecting the ability of forests to store carbon. The research, based on two decades of data, shows that climate change influences forest growth.
Some factors, like droughts and diseases, harm productivity, while others, like increased carbon dioxide, can have positive effects by enhancing plant growth. However, in the Western U.S., extreme climate effects are overshadowing any positive trends, challenging the assumption that forests will keep storing more carbon.
The study suggests that future climate projections might be too optimistic, as ecosystems are likely to store less carbon, contributing to more warming and faster climate change. It emphasizes that climate change affects regions differently, pushing some forests to become carbon sources rather than sinks.
The decline in Western forest productivity is not just due to wildfires but also slower tree growth caused by adverse climate effects. Even without more wildfires, urgent action to reduce human greenhouse gas emissions is needed to prevent further weakening of the carbon sink in Western forests.
The researchers stress the importance of healthy forests in tandem with emissions reduction to restore the global carbon balance and limit climate change. They urge governments and industries to collaborate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to protect forest carbon sinks and slow down climate change.
For more information, the original article is listed here:
https://phys.org/news/2024-01-climate-threatens-global-forest-carbon.html