TREES HELP MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE
Beyond the crucial role of converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, trees also help mitigate the effects of climate change! This is because trees cool the air through the processes of transpiration and evaporation; this is done through absorbing moisture from the soil and releasing it to the atmosphere through the leaves. These processes help regulate local air temperatures. Trees also help reduce the temperature of the soils and surfaces that they shade, by reducing the amount of radiation absorbed into the ground.
STORAGE
Trees play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by acting as carbon sinks. Through the process of photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store the carbon in their biomass and the soil. This helps to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which helps to mitigate global warming.
HABITAT
Climate change poses significant challenges to trees and forest ecosystems. Shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns can disrupt the natural habitats of many tree species, leading to changes in their distribution and abundance. Some species may struggle to adapt to rapidly changing conditions, leading to increased mortality rates and changes in forest composition.
DYNAMICS
Changes in tree cover and forest dynamics can contribute to feedback loops that exacerbate climate change. For example, as temperatures rise, forests become more susceptible to wildfires, which release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Additionally, deforestation and forest degradation contribute to carbon emissions, further exacerbating climate change.
CLIMATE CHANGE IN MINNESOTA
Climate change is a complex issue. In northern Minnesota, climate change affects trees in multiple ways. First, as temperatures rise and precipitation patterns become less predictable, our trees are directly affected, particularly by drought. As noted in our tree species information certain tree species like the Minnesota state tree, the red pine, are expected to struggle with warming temperatures because they are adapted to a cooler range.
CLIMATE CHANGE HARMS TREES
Extreme climate events like storms and flooding can damage or destroy trees. The timing and patterns of the growing season can shift with climate change, and tree species like maples and birch could suffer due to a timing disconnect between pollinators and their associated tree species. Pest and disease issues can also be exacerbated by a changing climate, affecting trees already stressed due to warming temperatures, and unpredictable precipitation.
WILDFIRES
Wildfire is another complex component of climate change, due to the growing variability in precipitation on top of the long-term suppression of natural wildfires over the past century. This combination has made our region more vulnerable to wildfires due to periodic droughts and the accumulation of flammable materials in the forests.
There is an unfortunate connection between our changing climate, and certain pests that cause defoliation of our forests. Trees are stressed due to drought from climate change, and are less able to withstand a pest invasion. Further, A warming climate increases the geographical range of these pests and enables them to devastate more areas.
PESTS: NATIVE AND INVASIVE
“The Earth does not belong to us:
We belong to the Earth." - Marlee Matlin
