January 12, 2023

Source: Grist

The largest die-off of fir trees ever recorded in Oregon and Washington state can be blamed on climate change, according to researchers from the U.S. Forest Service, who recently observed over 1.23 million acres of affected forests between the two states.

“Climate change is happening. It’s here, it’s everywhere. And with that comes a different degree of effects on different areas,” said Daniel DePinte, aerial survey program manager for the service, in an interview.

According to DePinte, the areas most affected range from Central Oregon down to the California border, including the Ochoco, Fremont, Winema and Malheur national forests. But the true catalyst is the region’s ongoing drought, which has afflicted the West Coast’s fishing and farming and spurred devastating forest fires.

Read more: Climate change driving ‘firmageddon’ in Pacific Northwest forests