Scientists sound alarm about phenomenon observed in trees across the Western US: 'A lot of value to humans'
Trees play a major role in your life, from your morning walks to shading your house from the sun. Unfortunately, warming temperatures, wildfires, insects, and disease are wiping trees out faster than they can regenerate.
According to a new study by Colorado State University published in Nature Climate Change, tree populations are declining because of these disturbances and are not regenerating fast enough in cooler climates.
The study examined 25,000 plots in the Western United States, not including coastal states. It also reviewed 30 years of disturbance data. And while trees were not expected to regenerate in the hottest areas, researchers didn't expect 15 species not to gain ground in cooler regions.
The shrinking ranges were similar in undisturbed areas as they were in areas disturbed by wildfires, insects, and disease.
Tree migration — the plants' gradual moving of territories away from environmental stressors — encounters obstacles, which include seed elimination from wildfires, insects, and disease. Cooler climates tend to be at higher elevations, and gravity makes it difficult for seeds to migrate uphill.
The paper suggested humans should assist the trees with migration because warming temperatures will likely outpace regeneration.
Katie Nigro, the lead author, said more local studies are needed to determine which species can survive in each location.
"Trees provide a lot of value to humans in terms of clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat and recreation," Nigro said.
Trees can even improve the value of your home. According to Money, "Numerous studies show that homes with trees have anywhere from 3.5% to 15% more value than those without."
Additionally, trees can reduce your electric bill by $10, even by providing just 17% shade, per Trees for Energy Conservation.
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The Nature Conservancy said trees also generate biodiversity. As Nigro noted, they offer habitat for wildlife, and that diversity is essential for humans. The Royal Society said that biodiversity is vital for the air humans breathe and the food they eat. For instance, pollinators help produce approximately one-third of the food humans eat.
Reforestation projects are vital for this cause, and major conservation efforts are under way. For example, a Minnesota forest restoration project restored a lost area to full glory.
Organizations working on these causes cannot do it alone, so donating to them can help them implement their work.
There is hope for the future, but people may have to accept change.
"Our future forests might look different and contain different trees than they do today," Nigro said.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
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Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Worsening climate outlooks raise the stakes for an agreement on the Colorado River
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On the Colorado River front, warming equals reduced flows as the atmosphere, desiccated soils, thirsty forests and human irrigation demands all take their share to deplete water that could otherwise be stored in the nation's two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell. This year's snowmelt runoff outlook, projected to reach just over half of the 30-year average by the time it effectively ends in July, is complicating efforts to reach consensus on interstate cutbacks. Any future reductions in flow will only add to the pain. Climate change is speeding faster than expected, with the likely effect of further tanking the river's bounty until it provides just two-thirds of the water that the negotiators of a century ago thought would support the growing region, according to Udall's worst-case scenario for the end of the century. And that doesn't account for water that the United States must provide to Mexico by treaty. In the language of water managers, it means a river that the interstate negotiators of a century ago asserted could provide 15 million acre-feet to the seven states that use it could instead average just 10 million acre-feet a year. Already, the megadrought that started in 2000 has dropped the average below 13 million. Mexico's share is 1.5 million. (An acre-foot is roughly 321,000 gallons, enough to support several households for a year, though more river water is consumed on farms.) Measuring flows: How much water flows down the Colorado River? The right answer is more important than ever Against today's startling water losses and tomorrow's even more frightening projections, the states are struggling to reach consensus on how to spread the pain among themselves after guidelines for navigating shortages expire next year. 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Brandon Loomis covers environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and Reach him at Environmental coverage on and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A warming, drying Colorado River increasingly vexes water negotiators
Fast Company
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- Fast Company
Solar panels help grasslands grow better during a drought, research shows
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Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
How Rare Are June Hurricane Landfalls In the US? It's Been Nearly 40 Years Since The Last One.
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