Climate Change

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONS & HEALTHY FORESTS

Submitted by Brenda Miller, Environment & Natural Resources Program Manager

Our climate is changing more rapidly than ever recorded and in ways humans have never experienced before. Climate change has resulted in significant changes to weather, precipitation patterns and increasing temperatures. In the Northeast US, seasonal precipitation patterns have shifted with higher amounts falling in heavy events that are occurring more often. The episodic nature of these events have increased the occurrences of localized flooding that are contrasted by periods of drought. Increasing temperatures have led to shorter more mild winters and longer growing seasons. Higher water temperatures are causing sea level rise and warming weather is altering the water cycle. Climate is one of the main factors in shaping forest ecosystems and the forests in our region have and will continue to be affected by climate change during this century. Forest ecosystems will respond to the impacts of climate change in a variety of ways. Increased risk of drought and more variable soil moisture may cause stress and decline in moisture sensitive species. Forest pests and diseases as well as invasive species have been found to benefit and become more damaging, because of the disturbances to the environment caused by climate change. Climate change will also result in changes to suitable habitat which may have implications on tree species survival and ranges. Northern ranging species such as black spruce, red spruce, northern white cedar, paper birch, quaking aspen and white spruce are likely to decline with only slight warming. A reduction in suitable habitat is expected to affect many of the more common species such as big tooth aspen, black cherry, sugar maple, and yellow birch. Declines in these species which play important roles in the forest may have significant impacts on the ecosystem. Alternatively, scarlet oak, black walnut, shagbark hickory, pin oak, and southern red oak found mainly in warmer more southern regions may benefit from expanding suitable habitat. Northward range expansion may also occur in very rare species, although this may be inhibited by other factors like habitat fragmentation, increased impervious cover and limited dispersal. The fluctuations and shifts in environment caused by climate change will also impact tree establishment, growth and species composition. Germination and seedling survival are highly sensitive to environmental conditions and changes in precipitation, soil moisture and temperature. Similarly, tree growth can be impacted by climate change. Growth is expected to slow in species such as balsam fir, quaking aspen, red spruce, and yellow birch adapted to colder northern areas with relatively slight warming. Projections under more dramatic climate change scenarios indicate declines in northern red oak, black cherry, and sugar maple likely related to seedling/ sapling sensitivity. Forests are always responding to the environment and climate change may drive the changes already occurring. The unprecedented speed at which the climate is changing will impact the normally slow pace of broad shifts in forest composition. The most noticeable shifts will probably occur along the borders of different forest types where species are at their northern or southern ranges. Climate change may also alter the composition of forest communities with different species mixes developing over more extended periods of time. Increasing risk from extreme weather events, pests and invasive species has the potential to dramatically disrupt the health of forest ecosystems. Understanding the basic principles of forest health and resilience can help woodland managers protect forests in the face of climate change. Several new resources are available to help inform and guide forest management decisions. The USDA and U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Resource Center, https://www.fs.usda. gov/ccrc/, contains an expansive compilation of tools and educational materials that provide a science based foundation for incorporating climate change considerations into forest management. Implementing strategic practices that address the impacts of climate change with forestry professionals is the best way to mitigate the effects of these rapidly changing conditions.

Management Issue 6 (August 2020): 10-11. Accessed September 11, 2020. http:// ccecolumbiagreene.org/resources/ in-these-woods-timber-managementaugust-2020?utm_source=Foresty Letter Series&utm_campaign=dbdf3a7745EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_25_07_44_ COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_ term=0_0843ed41c9dbdf3a7745-366811205.