Boreal Ecosystem Under Threat
Climate change is a global problem with potentially devastating local consequences. Global warming is a consequence of a dramatic increase in the atmospheric concentrations of Greenhouse gases (Carbon Dioxide, Methane etc.) since the industrial revolution. Such gases in the atmosphere trap the sun’s energy, increasing global temperatures. The burning of fossil fuels, industry, deforestation, changing land use and agriculture release greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.
The rate at which the planet warms is expected to accelerate, with temperate change predicted to be the most severe in northern regions. Climate models predict temperature increases as much as 5 – 10°C in some areas of the Russian and Canadian Boreal forest over the next century. Alaskan winter temperatures have already risen an average 4.5 °C since the sixties. To put this in context the world has only warmed by a mere 5°C since the last Ice Age, 15,000 years ago, which saw most of the northern hemisphere buried under kilometres of ice.
Taiga in Exile
A conservative temperature increase of +2°C over the next century would force trees to migrate around 1.5 – 5.5km a year further north or higher in altitude. Forests are generally only able to migrate at a much slower rate of between 0.02 and 2km a year. The predicted continuing rise in global temperatures will have a severe impact on the global climate and a devastating effect on the boreal forest eco-system.
See the TRN Climate Change Fact Sheet for more details on the impacts of climate change on the boreal. |
