Charred forests not growing back as expected in Pacific Northwest, researchers say

[applegrove]

Charred forests not growing back as expected in Pacific Northwest, researchers say

Certain tree species not growing back in low-elevation areas; seedlings struggle in Rocky Mountains

Jon Hernandez · CBC News · 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/charred-forests-not-growing-back-as-expected-in-pacific-northwest-researchers-say-1.5225825

"SNIP.....

What she's found: certain tree species are having a tough time growing back in areas that have been affected by wildfires due to warming temperatures — a discovery that could have major implications for both the forestry sector and long-term climate change targets.

Long term trends

Among Stevens-Rumann,'s work was a 2017 study of nearly 1,500 sites charred by 52 wildfires in the U.S. Rocky Mountains. Her research found that lower elevation trees had a tough time naturally regenerating in areas that burned between 2000 and 2015 compared with sites affected between 1985 and 1999, largely due to drier weather conditions.

More recently, a 2019 study written by her colleague Kerry Kemp found that both Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine seedlings in the Idaho's Rocky Mountains — just south of B.C. — were also struggling in low-lying burned areas due to warmer temperatures, leading to lower tree densities.

Both studies attribute climate change to be the lead cause of why the trees are struggling to grow back in certain fire-scarred areas.


.....SNIP"

[BigmanPigman]

1. Maybe they aren't raking the forest floor correctly.

[CountAllVotes]

2. This is tragic

There is no coming back until things change drastically.

Climate change is real.

When there aren't any trees left is when it will be beyond grim.



& recommend.

[virgogal]

4. Warmer weather trees will replace them.....it's not the end of trees.

[NickB79]

5. Actually in this area it is

In the article, they specifically state that many of these areas will become grasslands as climate change progresses.

[msongs]

3. different species will move in to replace the pines. has always been so nt

[NickB79]

6. Species aren't moving fast enough to keep up with the changes

Which means invasive non-natives like cheatgrass will occupy the open niches.

[defacto7]

7. At best Scrub Oak which is a bush. It's the next step toward desertification.

It's not the midwest. Hasty generalizations usually don't work.