Helping trees migrate north might be essential for their survival

As climate change pushes species northward, trees are struggling to keep up, and some ecologists suggest human intervention might be the only way to save them.

Phoebe Weston reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• As global temperatures rise, tree species face increasing threats from heat and drought, struggling to keep pace with climate shifts.
• Ecologists are exploring “assisted migration,” moving tree species to cooler regions, a controversial strategy due to the risks of introducing non-native species.
• Some argue that doing nothing could be more harmful, as entire ecosystems might collapse without intervention.

Key quote:

“There is also risk in inaction. We have to balance the risk of doing things against losing these species from the ecosystem.”

— Sarah Dalrymple, conservation ecologist, Liverpool John Moores University.

Why this matters:

Assisted migration is a controversial move. Some argue that it's meddling with nature, while others see it as a necessary intervention to preserve our ecosystems. As the climate crisis intensifies, the debate over how best to protect forests is only growing. Read more: Carolyn Ramírez on forest protection.