Climate Change and Deforestation in New England J.J.Swartz

Historically, New England has always been a diverse area, a melting pot of human life as well as animal and vegetation. The biodiversity of the region is treasured, not only for its aesthetic beauty but also for its value as an economic resource in the forms of tourism, agricultural production, etc. A good indication of the vast array of diversity in the climate zone is in the absolute extreme temperatures. The record high of 107 F is higher than the record high of Miami, Florida; the record low for the region, -50 F, is colder than the all-time low of International Falls, Minnesota and Anchorage, Alaska. However, this wonderful diversity is in danger, especially as it relates to the trees of New England.

Recent ice core data from drillings in Antarctica show that in the past 150 years the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased as much as they would be expected to in thousands of years. This could translate into a possible 9-11 F increase in temperature, and increase which many indigenous species of trees would simply not be able to survive. As these CO2 levels increase, climate scientists hypothesize that damaging storms will increase in duration, frequency and severity, and also that the injury from winter freezes, insect and disease outbreaks, and forest fires will all increase. Forests may also be more vulnerable to drought stress and increases in mortality will also likely be accompanied by slower growth, in part brought on by damage to tree root systems. This change is evident in the El Niño storm systems, which now can be expected to occur every three years instead of every six, and recently these storms have been longer and more intense when they hit. As a result of trapped heat in the environment, a direct product of the buildup of CO2 and greenhouse gases, a warmer, wetter, and much more turbulent climate will result.

A good analogy for this scenario is imagining blankets suspended in the sky, acting as insulation. Before the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, we had two of these insulators. Since that time we have added another blanket and in the next 40-50 years will add yet another. A severe ramification of the strengthened El Niño storm systems in the Northeast will be the ever-worsening freeze-thaw. The correlation between the two is quite clear. The acute freeze-thaw storms usually occur in open winters, which are often El Niño years, and the El Niño storms bring vast quantities of concentrated precipitation to an area, which in the Northeast manifests in heavy snow and ice storms. In fact, not only will CO2 increase in the upcoming years, but that in the next 50 years the CO2 levels will double, and forest mortality rates will be as high as 30-40%. This is according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) computer models, which also show that “climate-defined species” will move north with the shifting climate zones, but that the trees and plants will often not have the time to do that. In the area, many sugarbushes and maple stands already stressed by the forces of air pollution and invasive species (i.e. some types of insect), are seriously damaged by ice storms uncharacteristically out of season.

More facts about deforestation as it relates to New England demonstrate the power of these destructive forces of climate change if we do not act soon: The trees on the southern boundaries will die because of drought, fire stress, and the better climate created for insects and diseases that normally would be found much farther south. The Northeast already has 5 F higher temperatures (mainly in the late fall, winter, and early spring when the trees are weaker) and around 20% more precipitation than it had 100 years ago. The ice-covered period had been extended by one half a day per year for the past 30 years (climatehotmap.org). Finally, the maple sugar and syrup industry, a staple to the New England economy and lifestyle, will be obliterated. First there will be decreased output as a result of the warmer spring nights restricting the flow of the sap. Then the trees will die altogether. Production will likely shift to Canada, where the climate zone best suiting the needs of the maple trees will then be. The stress of air pollution, acid rain, and soil compaction will further complicate the survival of remaining forests in New England. If people do not soon make a conscious effort to change course, the world we live in will be drastically and intolerably changed.

Sources include
1. environmentaldefense.org [Online]
2. daviesand.org [Online]
3. climatehotmap.org [Online]

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