New leading cause of tree death in US northeast shifts from logging to natural causes
Why it matters: The US Northeast's forests are now primarily shaped by natural disturbances, not human logging.
- New research indicates a reversal in the leading cause of tree loss in the US Northeast, with natural causes now surpassing logging.
- The shift occurred within a 15-year timeframe, highlighting a rapid change in forest mortality drivers.
The primary cause of tree death in the US Northeast has dramatically shifted over the past 15 years, moving from human-driven logging to natural factors. This change signifies a significant ecological transition in how forests are being impacted and lost.
