Global warming does not automatically increase the growth of northern forests. According to a recent study, the genotype of the northern trees is such that they are not necessarily able to make use of the lengthening growing period.
Trees adapt to change at a pace much slower than the one with which the climate is predicted to get warmer.
The study carried out focused on birch and pine trees but the adaptation to climate change is believed to be equally slow with other species of tree as well.
According to researchers, northern forests’ growth would be aided if seeds of trees were brought in from further south, or if thinning measures were used to make room for the best acclimatised saplings.
Natural scientists and mathematicians from the universities of Oulu, Helsinki, and Potsdam took part in the research project.
