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.
