The latest report discovered that forest health and tree growth are impacted by climate change effects that could significantly affect productivity in carbon sequestration.
Forests play a crucial role in communities, wildlife and humans. Trees are habitats for many species on Earth. For cities and communities, it protects them from flooding, drought, deadly heatwaves and other extreme weather events.
While forests are ecologically essential, they are not safe from different threats:
- Climate change
- Global warming
- Deforestation
- Diseases
As a result, researchers monitor the many species of trees from population decline. Forests help to mitigate climate change, especially for poorer communities. With the rising greenhouse emissions, trees contribute to the global carbon sequestration.
Role of Trees in Fighting Climate Change
California's Sierra Nevada mountain. Researchers warned that forest health and tree growth are affected by climate change and diseases. It can likely affect the productivity of forests' role in fighting climate change. The lack of rain and rising temperatures were exacerbated by climate change, which made it more difficult for trees to grow.
Communities are urged to always plant trees in their lifetime. It can reduce hotter temperatures that cause rapid sea rise. According to the U.S. Forest Service, climate change threatens the forests, especially in the American West.
The research findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report warned of the devastating impacts of climate change on forest health and tree growth.
Protecting forests is crucial to save species from decline and improve the global carbon sequestration that contributes to environmental problems. Severe impacts can affect the productivity of trees in helping wildlife and human communities.
In the Western US, the region is no stranger to challenging weather conditions, including the following:
- Drought
- Heatwaves
- Wildfires
The lack of rain and rising temperatures were exacerbated by climate change, which made it more difficult for trees to grow.
According to recent reports, forests help to sequester about 25% of human carbon emissions. When forests suffer from widespread habitat loss, it is negative news for people.
As a result, researchers analyzed how forest ecosystems live in the increasing threat of climate change. In the US, the Forest Service has been monitoring the state of forests in the country.
Impacts of Severe Drought and Wildfires on Trees in US
In the latest NWN report, widespread wildfires can unfold in the Southern Appalachian region of the Southeast exacerbated by climate change. Researchers emphasized that dry vegetation and hotter temperatures can trigger deadly fires, including in parts of the US.
The forecast warned of larger wildfires that can reach urban areas and leave devastating impacts on plants, forests and wildlife. The study observed the fire frequency and climate change effect with climate scenarios.
Furthermore, frequent and larger fires can destroy biodiversity. Communities should have better mitigation and prediction technologies to prevent huge economic losses and deaths.
With the rapid rise in temperatures, forests and trees will become more affected.
Related Article: US Forests Face Declining Productivity and Carbon Sequestration Under Climate Change
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