By Carmen Hardin, Director, DNR Applied Forestry Bureau, Rhinelander;
Carmen.Hardin@wisconsin.gov

A graphic shows changing tornado risk trends in the United States from 1980 to 2020. All Wisconsin counties are showing an increase in tornado days. / Map Credit: Inside Climate News, Stephen M. Strader et. al., Nature Magazine

We are often asked difficult questions about our forests, their health and how climate change is impacting them. Here is a curated collection of resources that may help you answer some of those questions.

Climate Change Primer

Yale Climate Connections gathered a collection of basic climate change information for when you need to consult or share a primer or introduction that’s short but not overly simple in their “Got Questions about Climate Change? Start Here” article.

Tornado Patterns Changing?

New research suggests that tornadic activity may be shifting east and north, away from Tornado Alley, which traditionally runs through Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Experts say the causes are still unclear, but the change is consistent with a warming world.

Assisted Migration Trends

In a recent issue of Rooted in Research, the U.S. Forest Service shared the results of “Assessing Assisted Migration under Climate Change Scenarios,” in which researchers ran simulation models using the LANDIS-II forest landscape model to understand the potential effects of assisted migration in northern Wisconsin forests under three climate scenarios.

Under a limited climate change scenario, assisted migration can boost species diversity, increase biomass production and maintain ecosystem goods and services. Under an extreme climate change scenario, assisted migration alone was not expected to maintain ecosystem goods and services.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid’s Impact

From the Yale Climate Connections, hear how an invasive insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid, may accelerate climate change and change our forests.

Making Forests More Resilient

Northern Woodlands published its third article – “Managing Forests for Resilience” – in a four-part series focusing on climate change impacts and adaptation in forests. The first article was “Climate Change Impacts on Northeastern Forests,” and the second was “Future Climate-Adapted Tree Species.”