Drought Driving "Significant And Disturbing" Dieoff Of Fir Trees In Oregon And Washington In 2022

[hatrack]

Fir trees in Oregon and Washington died in record-breaking numbers in 2022, according to as-yet unpublished research conducted by the U.S. Forest Service. Called “Firmageddon” by researchers, the “significant and disturbing” mortality event is the largest die-off ever recorded for fir trees in the two states.

In total, the Forest Service observed fir die-offs occurring on more than 1.23 million acres (over 1,900 square miles) in Oregon and Washington. Oregon, however, was the hardest hit. The Forest Service observed dead firs on roughly 1.1 million acres (over 1,700 square miles) of forest in Oregon alone. This year’s numbers for the state are nearly double the acres recorded during previous die-offs.

Heavily affected areas include the Fremont, Winema, Ochoco and Malheur National Forests. The most southerly of the forests, the Fremont National Forest, was the hardest hit, according to survey data.

“We’re calling it ‘Firmageddon,’” Daniel DePinte, who led the survey for the USFS Pacific Northwest Region Aerial Survey, told a gathering of colleagues in October. “It is unprecedented, the number of acres we have seen impacted. It’s definitely significant and it’s disturbing.”

EDIT

https://columbiainsight.org/massive-die-off-hits-fir-trees-across-pacific-northwest/

[NickB79]

1. Assisted migration is sorely needed

Oregon and Washington will become more like California as time progresses.

A program needs to be put in place to reforest with more southernly species as the native ones die off. Otherwise, invasive species will take hold and biodiversity will plummet.