The boreal forests of North America could be destroyed by even modest climate change, new research shows.
The boreal forests of North America could be destroyed by even modest climate change, new research shows.
A recently published scientific study led by a University of Michigan ecologist found an overall temperature increase of less than 3 degrees (1.6 Celsius) will cause major problems for tree species that now thrive in the most northern forests of the continent, particularly when combined with reduced rainfall.
Boreal forests of North America are among the planet’s largest remaining nearly intact woodland ecosystems, where vast amounts of terrestrial carbon remain sequestered in trees and plants. Climate changes could harm both biodiversity and the ability for these forests to produce timber, researchers warn.
Recent scientific research shows even moderate climate change will cause major changes in North America's boreal forests, like those in Canada, Alaska, and parts of Maine, Minnesota, and Michigan. This file photo shows views of the Keweenaw Peninsula from Brockway Mountain near Copper Harbor in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Thursday, May 19, 2022. (Photo Credit: Cory Morse | MLive.com)
