Research led by Lund University in Sweden has delved into the aftermath of Sweden’s 2018 forest fires, investigating the impact of climate change on boreal forests’ ability to sequester carbon dioxide. Boreal forests, spanning the Northern Hemisphere, serve as crucial carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 and mitigating climate change. However, escalating forest fires, exacerbated by climate change, pose a significant threat to this ecosystem service.
The study, encompassing 50 forests across Sweden, found that climate change may impair burnt forests’ capacity to absorb carbon post-fire. Despite the survival of many mature trees, their vital functions seem compromised. This compromise stems from a climate-sensitive interaction between plants and soil microbes, influencing post-fire regrowth. As the climate warms, a mismatch between the adaptive capacities of plants and microbes arises. Specifically, the northward migration of warmth-adapted plant species might not align with escalating microbial decomposition rates under rising temperatures.
Johan Eckdahl, a physical geographer at Lund University, underscores the necessity of plant species migration to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services amid global warming. Failure to synchronize with climate change threatens Sweden’s boreal forests’ effectiveness as carbon sinks. The boreal region, a vast carbon reservoir, faces diminished carbon storage potential in the coming century due to climate change and heightened wildfire activity, undermining its role in absorbing greenhouse gases.
The study sheds light on the overlooked relationship between biodiversity and carbon storage in northern ecosystems, emphasizing the imperative for ongoing research and environmental monitoring in the boreal region. Understanding boreal forests’ response to external factors is crucial for predicting their resilience to climate change and escalating forest fire frequencies. Ultimately, this research underscores the urgency of safeguarding boreal forests, not only for biodiversity but also for their pivotal role in global carbon regulation.
Source
Unique Field Study Shows How Climate Change Affects Fire-Impacted Forests, Lund University, 2024-02-17
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