Tree-Damaging Pests Put 40 Percent of US Forests at Risk
- 5 years ago
Tree-Damaging Pests Put
40 Percent of US Forests at Risk According to a study recently published by PNAS,
non-native forest pests are destroying swathes of woodland
in the United States and could cause irreparable damage. The study found that six million tons of carbon
are expelled annually by dying plants, which is the
equivalent of adding 4.6 million more cars to the roads. These forests are being destroyed by over 400
oversea pests that have been introduced to American
forests due to increased international trade and travel. Songlin Fei, Purdue University, via ‘The Guardian’ Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns are
also contributing to the problem, as they add increased
strain to these carefully balanced ecosystems. An estimated six billion dead trees are currently
standing in the western USA, with even more
trees dying due to disease, insects and wildfires.
40 Percent of US Forests at Risk According to a study recently published by PNAS,
non-native forest pests are destroying swathes of woodland
in the United States and could cause irreparable damage. The study found that six million tons of carbon
are expelled annually by dying plants, which is the
equivalent of adding 4.6 million more cars to the roads. These forests are being destroyed by over 400
oversea pests that have been introduced to American
forests due to increased international trade and travel. Songlin Fei, Purdue University, via ‘The Guardian’ Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns are
also contributing to the problem, as they add increased
strain to these carefully balanced ecosystems. An estimated six billion dead trees are currently
standing in the western USA, with even more
trees dying due to disease, insects and wildfires.