by Sara Adams, freelance author
The coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest are integral to our lifestyle. Hunters, foragers, and recreators alike delight of their choices. Sustainable harvesting is a vital a part of our financial system and supply of native jobs. They assist maintain our water clear, rivers wholesome, and supply habitat to wildlife.
Nevertheless, as we flip the web page on the most popular yr on report, we’re reminded of the challenges dealing with our forests. Whereas dry forests expertise extra extreme wildfires and drought, coastal moist forests should take care of a singular set of circumstances, reminiscent of modifications in land use, growing bugs and illness, and excessive climate occasions.
With local weather change compounding these stressors, there may be an pressing want to organize our forests for the long run. However, how?
The solutions lie deep inside the old-growth forests of the Ellsworth Creek Protect, nestled on Washington’s southwest coast. New analysis provides land managers a solution to domesticate traits that can assist tomorrow’s forests adapt to an ever-changing setting.
Ellsworth Creek Protect: A Dwelling Laboratory for Forest Resiliency