Trees are showing their spectacular fall colors across Minnesota. This year, the changing leaves have come early due to the stresses of ongoing drought. Drought, flooding and higher temperatures associated with climate change are all factors prompting University of Minnesota experts to think about the future of our forests.
"If somebody turned the heat up a few degrees in your house, you might open a window or spend more time outside. But trees and plants can’t move. Changes in temperature, longer and deeper droughts, storms, pests and disease all change the ways trees and plants grow and thrive. It’s important to note that climate change will impact species differently." Says Minnesota Extension Educator Angela Gupta.
Read more answers about the future of Minnesota forests here.