Tree species everywhere have begun to deal with struggles they wouldn't have if our climate change wasn't happening at such a drastic rate. Climate change is long-term changes in the average weather patterns that are largely caused by humans through activities like the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuel consumption increases greenhouse gas levels and raises the surface temperature of the Earth (National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA], 2024). As a result of rising global temperatures, precipitation patterns are being changed, causing less rainfall in recent years. This creates drought stress for younger trees as they are more sensitive to heat and drought-related stress. There are many other factors including faster spread of diseases and pests (Glisa, 2017), reduced biodiversity in tree species, disruption of ecosystems, soil erosion, increased carbon emissions, and much more (Abbass, 2022).

  Communities all around the world have begun to research and implement strategies to stave off climate change's environmental issues and to help make our environment more resilient to rising temperatures. Climate change is an ongoing problem that is continuously growing, if we don't act now to save our forests, there won't be anything left to save in the future. 

Forests provide us with the things ecosystems and humans need to survive. Clean air, water, food, goods, and other ecosystem services are all provided by our luscious green trees (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2024). Climate change greatly affects the youth trees in our forests. A rise in warmer temperatures damages these trees because they aren’t able to adapt to survive climate variation. The higher the global temperatures rise; the more trees will start to die. If we start to lose more trees, entire ecosystems could collapse, and the effects would be detrimental. Tree species that are not able to adapt to climate change could become extinct or have a substantial population reduction. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and they store it in their roots, the soil, and the forest floor (EPA, 2024). Climate change effects like flooding, wildfires, pests, and diseases limit the ability of these forests to provide the important service of storing CO2 and producing oxygen (EPA, 2024). 

Climate change is slowly destroying everything. The forests not suited for high temperatures are most impacted. Humans need our forests to survive, without them, we quite literally will not have oxygen to breathe. Changes in temperature and rainfall influence the way insects and pests survive, causing them to migrate, which can lead to infectious diseases being spread (NIEHS, 2024). Forests also provide us with drinking water, food, and jobs. 

Indigenous people continue to be the most affected and least responsible for climate change (Whyte, 2020). Indigenous people rely entirely on the environment for survival. It is their source of livelihood, food, and cultural practices (EPA, 2024). Climate change is altering everything they know, affecting their food sources and causing many to get sick. Water temperatures are increasing, and it encourages harmful algal bloom growth (EPA, 2024). When the Indigenous people eat fish or shellfish from this water, swim, or drink in it, they can get quite sick (EPA, 2024). They struggle to access essential services like drinking water, health care, and disaster response because they don’t have the resources, we have in our technology-driven communities (EPA, 2024). They have a limited ability to plan and respond to climate threats, making them innocent victims of the effects we have created.

Much research and planning are still being done to find the best ways to help forests be more resilient to climate change.  Scientists at the University of Michigan discussed ways to make aspen-dominated forests better equipped to handle a warmer environment. They wanted to implement a new species of trees into these forests that can withstand climate change, and pests (Erickson, 2023). Their thought behind this is that it will enhance the forests' resilience and promote healthy regeneration (Erickson, 2023). 

Communities are in the process of learning what it is they are trying to accomplish. Learning through trial and error, like King County, Washington for example. They made a plan workbook called The King County Climate Plan. This plan was made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience from 2007- 2020 (Saavedra, 2009). They intended to accomplish this by expanding green spaces, protecting climate refuges, and managing their forests for multi-species and multi-age stands (Saavedra, 2009).  

While this plan is a good idea in theory, King County struggled to reach its goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 25%. Due to things like population and economic growth, they had higher energy consumption and CO2 emissions which contributed to missing their goal by 96% (Myers, 2020). However, the plan was effective in expanding green spaces, protecting climate refuges, and managing forests for multi-species and multi-aged stands (Myers, 2020). While they may have failed in their first attempt, they have created a new plan to become carbon neutral by 2050 called the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP). They want to expand green infrastructure, live green roofs, and rain gardens that can absorb CO2 emissions (Constantine, 2015). They’re going to increase their use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar, enhance community engagement through workshops and campaigns, and many other strategies (Constantine, 2015)! By implementing these strategies, King County is a notable example of how Michigan’s UP communities can decrease our CO2 emissions and help sustain our forest systems and our environment.

(Figure 1. Ostrom’s Socio-Ecological Theory)