Practice 9_Forest Health in a Changing Climate​

Factors of Forest Health

• Natural disturbances

• Pests & Pathogens

• Forest Productivity

• Ecosystem Services

how climate change affect natural disturbances

climate change increases the frequency and intensity of wildfires

How climate affect causes affect and pathogens

warmer and drier conditions increase reproductivity of certain insects, making trees vunerable.

how climate change affects forest productivity

Changes in temp, precipitation, and co2 changes forect productivity and distribution (slows growth).

how climate change affects ecosystem services

Ecosystems provde clean air and water, climate regulation, and carbon storage.

wildfire impacts

• loss of habitats

• erosion

• air pollution

• increased wildfire in risk

Why are wildfires curently relevent

Texas will likely have surface dryness and lower humidity for coming years due to climate change, extending length of fire season

when does wildfire become an issue

too frequent or too hot

2011 drought

killed 300mil trees, 5.6 mill shade trees in urban areas

2022 drought

more than 70% of texas experienced extreme drought, brazos valley region suffered most.

affects of drought

• Lingers for years

• Causes a positive feedback loop

• trees vunerable to pests

• standing dead trees hazards

why is loss of urban shade trees a problem

urban heat island effect, lack of shade trees makes it too hot, heat stroke

Identify

Emerald Ash Borer (I)

Emerald Ash Borer effects

Kills ash trees by burrowing into their trunks

Emerald Ash Borer

EAB

Origin of EAB

Eastern Asia

Introduction of the EAB

Shipping containers, packing materials, or ash wood pellets

Symptoms of trees infested with EAB

• Dying back

• Splitting bark

• SUcker growth from base

• Holes

Spotted lanternfly (I)

Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted Lanternfly (I)

• This insect can damage forests and crops, especially grapevines and peach trees

• No natural enemies

Spotted lantern

Asian Longhorned beetle

Asian Longhorned beetle effects

Destructive, wood-boring pest that feeds on maple and other hardwoods, eventually killing them

Forest diseases

• Oak Wilt

• Red band needle blight

Oak Wilt

Red Band needle blight

Deforestation since 2001

• 2.09M Hectacres

• 4.4% of the global total

Resiliency

A term that determines if a forest can repair damage done by stress and maintain it’s biodiversity

Ecosystem services

• Provisioning

• Regulating

• Supporting

• Cultural

Forest Provisionig Services

• Food (Fruits / Nuts)

• Raw meterial (Timber / Pulp)

• Energy (Biofuel)

• Ornamental (Decorations)

Forest Regulating Services

• Carbon sequestration

• Waste decomposition

• Flood protection

Forest Supporting Services

• Nutrient Cycling

• Primary production

• Soil formation

• Habitat

Forest Cultural Services

• Nature as a theme in books, film, paintings

• Historical

• Recreatino

• Ecotherapy