Earth-Save

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey said there are fewer large-diameter trees growing in Yosemite National Park than in years past, most likely due to climate change.  Warmer temperatures and smaller snow packs are creating conditions that are more difficult for large trees to flourish.

“Most of the water that becomes available in the Sierra Nevada comes from the snow pack,” said Jim Lutz, University of Washington researcher who co-wrote the study.  “Higher temperatures might increase populations of insects or make fungi more aggressive … which all could increasingly contribute to tree mortality.”

When smaller snow packs collect in April and May, trees have less water to sustain them over the dry summer.  Warmer temperatures also increase the severity of wildfires that kill off trees.

The study concluded that the number of large-diameter trees in Yosemite National Park decreased by 24 percent from 1932 to 1999.  Trees in the park’s sub-alpine areas were the most severely affected.

Story at Google News
More National Park News

The United Nations says that at least 10 million “green” jobs could be created worldwide with “sustainable forest management.”  The goal of sustainable forestry is to prevent forest depletion by maintaining their health and ensuring their use does not interfere with natural benefits or the local environment.

For example, in forests where wood is removed for human use, the U.N. suggests hiring people to monitor and regulate how much wood is cut down to ensure the forest does not become depleted and doesn’t negatively affect biodiversity and the water supply.

The jobs would especially benefit “regions with substantial rural unemployment and degraded land areas,” said C.T.S. Nair, chief economist in the U.N. Forestry Department.  The U.N. is hoping that some countries — such as the United States, India and South Korea — invest in sustainable forest management as part of their economic stimulus plans.

Story at CNN