Trees for Future in the IPCC newsletter
In its November newsletter, the IPCC's Walloon platform (PwG) takes a look at biodiversity in an article entitled "When the climate no longer suits the species".. It refers to assisted migration and the Trees for Future as possible options for adapting our forests to climate change.
When the climate no longer suits the species.
Generally speaking, Europe's ecosystems are already being adversely affected by human activities (loss of habitat, pollution, etc.). Climate change will accentuate and exacerbate the pressures on flora and fauna, which are already under strain.
Living species have always evolved by adapting to the conditions of their environment. To a certain extent, species can adapt to climate change through various mechanisms grouped under the general term "autonomous adaptation".
Migration is one of the mechanisms of autonomous adaptation. However, the speed of climate change combined with other risk factors can undermine the potential for migration, leading to an increased risk of extinction. Assisted migration therefore consists of moving species to areas that are more favourable to their survival from a climatic point of view, so as to "hasten the work of nature". However, such moves must be carried out with great caution, given the scientific, economic, ethical and legal risks involved.
Focus on the assisted migration of forest trees in Belgium
The long life cycle of the trees that make up our forests means that foresters need to be able to look ahead to the end of the century in order to choose which species to favour depending on the future climate. Trees, like other living species, can migrate according to conditions, but not quickly enough to keep up with expected changes. For example, according to palynological data, the sessile oak has a migration capacity of around 50 to 100 km over a century. However, depending on the climate scenario envisaged, the sessile oak should be able to move between 200 and 500 km over the same period. In Belgium, the " Trees for Future "Since 2018, the SRFB has been experimenting with assisted migration by testing more southerly provenances and new species through a network of 181 experimental plots in forests, spread over 42 sites in Belgium.
Read the article full report on the subject in PwG newsletter no. 27 (pages 8 to 11)
