Climate change and forests

Trees in U.S. cities, the wildland-urban interface and rural areas are responding to climate change. Longer growing seasons help trees grow faster in many areas, but simultaneously result in longer periods of water stress. Western forests are particularly vulnerable to increasing wildfire and insect outbreaks. In rural areas especially, the demand for wood products, watersheds for clean water, and recreation opportunities interact with emerging bioenergy markets, potential for carbon credits, and changing private forest ownerships. These factors along with climate-induced risks to forests and the perceptions of public land management make the future use of forests a challenging public issue.