Global Warming: Chilling Report from USDA

The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity

Why should we act now to reduce fuel loads in our forest lands? Can we make a difference? We may not be able to stop global warming, but we can must take bold steps to manage our forests better before it is simply too late to do anything.

This isn't the usual global warming fodder, with vague but dire predictions. The USDA report is more frightening because it states the practical changes in farming, forestry and water that are transforming the landscape now and will do so again over the next few decades. Here are a few excerpts:

"Climate change has very likely increased the size and number of forest fires, insect outbreaks, and tree mortality in the interior West, the Southwest, and Alaska, and will continue to do so."

"Rising CO2 will very likely increase photosynthesis for forests, but this increase will likely only enhance wood production in young forests on fertile soils."

"Nitrogen deposition and warmer temperatures have very likely increased forest growth where adequate water is available and will continue to do so in the near future."

Link to USDA report Executive Summary PDF.
Link to full report by sections.