What is it about?
The extensive northern forests of Canada, Alaska and Siberia are about to fundamentally change their tree density because of climate change. In our study we observed tree cover from satellites over the past 20 years. We then projected how this past change can provide a glimpse into the future of boreal forests. We found that boreal forests will become more open which increases the risk of forest fires and affects the ability to take up carbon from the atmosphere.
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Why is it important?
The change in tree cover we project will affect the amount of carbon that forests can take up for their growth. A potential increase in forest fires would further increase the amount of carbon in the atmosphere which, in turn, will accelerate climate change on a global change. Altered boreal forests will also change the way people (especially indigenous populations) interact with the forests as well as the resources these forests provide (e.g. timber).
Perspectives
We show that human-induced climate change has a fundamental impact on one of the largest ecosystems on Earth. Our results are a showcase of how our activites alter the very foundations of natural systems we highly depend on for the survival of human civilization. As our projections are of a possible but not yet realised future, we have the opportunity to revert the changes that erode ecosystems.
Ronny Rotbarth
Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Boreal forests are heading for an open state, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, December 2024, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2404391121.
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