True fir trees were found to be dying off in unprecedented numbers in the Pacific Northwest after the U.S. Forest Service led a survey over 1,900 square miles.
Oregon’s forests have been the most severely affected, with dead fir trees appearing on more than 1.1 million acres in the state. That’s nearly twice the numbers recorded during previous die-offs.
“The main, primary cause is climate change manifested as higher temperatures and lower precipitation," said Christine Buhl, an entomologist for the Oregon Department of Forestry. "But then there are some other complicating factors on top of those impacts. And that can include root disease, insect damage can opportunistically finish off trees that are already stressed.”
The ODF plans to adapt by shifting the geographical location of where it plants fir trees, and reducing density. The agency hopes these measures will reduce the number of fir die-offs in the future.
