Trees in Western U.S.Dying at Faster Rate in Recent Decades

Trees in western U.S. forests are dying twice as fast as 20 to 30 years ago because of rising temperatures, drought, and major insect infestations sparked by these changing conditions, according to a new study. The study, overseen by the U.S. Geological Survey and published in the journal Science, looked at changes in 76 forest plots that have been monitored for years and found that regardless of region, tree species, or elevation, forests are losing trees at an accelerated rate. The team of 11 researchers said the quickening pace of forest loss means that in the future forests will be thinner, more susceptible to die-offs from insects and other causes, and will absorb less carbon dioxide than healthy forests, further enhancing global warming. The study — the largest research project ever conducted in the U.S.’s old-growth forests — said that hydrological changes, including drought and reduced snow-pack, appear to be playing a major role in the increased rate of forest loss.