"Climate change is making North American forests more vulnerable to
insects and disease but is helping some trees grow faster and increase
their resistance to pests, a team of researchers from Dartmouth
University said Monday," Lenny Bernstein reports for The Washington Post. Researchers, who looked at more than 500 scientific studies since the 1950s, "said that warmer temperatures and increased carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere are boosting tree growth, which could have a positive impact
on economies that depend on timber and wood pulp and could help pull
carbon out of the ecosystem."
"Researchers found 27 insects and 22 diseases that are 'notable agents of disturbance' in North American forests," Bernstein writes. "Some areas devastated by insects or disease may be restored because of
continued warming, with insects dying off because temperatures are too
high for them, Weed said. But warming also allows insects to
flourish and exaggerates their natural role in keeping forests healthy,
the researchers found. Various types of bark beetles (above) for example, are
doing more damage than expected, they said." (Read more) To read the full report click here.
"Researchers found 27 insects and 22 diseases that are 'notable agents of disturbance' in North American forests," Bernstein writes. "Some areas devastated by insects or disease may be restored because of
continued warming, with insects dying off because temperatures are too
high for them, Weed said. But warming also allows insects to
flourish and exaggerates their natural role in keeping forests healthy,
the researchers found. Various types of bark beetles (above) for example, are
doing more damage than expected, they said." (Read more) To read the full report click here.
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