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Climate Change
We have been burning fossil fuels for almost two centuries, but in addition to the energy it creates, it also releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) that have been building up in the Earth's atmosphere. This excess CO2 traps the sun's energy - heating up the atmosphere like a greenhouse. This warming trend has begun to cause changes to local climates. In New York these changes include higher temperatures, more frequent and intense storms year-round, more rain in the winter, more frequent summer droughts, and higher sea levels. These changes in turn are expected to impact our health, our ability to produce food, and the survival of native plants and animals.
The Role of Forests
Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, a process known as sequestration, and then store the carbon in their leaves, roots, and trunks, as well as in the soil. According to the US Forest Service, New York's 18.6 million acres of forests hold 1.9 billion metric tons of carbon - this is equivalent to the carbon dioxide that would be released if we powered all the houses in New York State with fossil fuels for the next 100 years. The amount of carbon that can be stored and removed by a forest depends on factors like the forest's age, health, and type. Forests with higher carbon benefits are those with:
- healthy trees
- no competition from invasive species
- natural regrowth and replacement of trees
- many tree species
- a wide range of tree ages
- low soil disturbance
The bigger a tree is, the more carbon it is storing, but as forests get older, the higher competition between trees reduces the amount of carbon taken in per year. Because of this, mature forests with slower growing, shade tolerant trees store more carbon and sequester less carbon each year than younger forests with faster growing, sun-loving trees.
Climate Change Impacts to Trees and Forests
While being an important tool to combat climate change, forests throughout New York State will also be impacted by climate change. Higher temperatures will lead to drier soils, higher survival of forest pests and diseases over the winter, and more competition from invasive plants. These changes will particularly affect northern New York forests with higher concentrations of hemlock, fir and spruce trees that prefer a cooler climate. More extreme weather conditions will lead to increases in flooding, runoff, soil erosion, and summer wildfire risk. Wetland forests and moist forests, such as those found along rivers and lakes, are expected to be the most impacted by extreme droughts and flooding. Sea level rise will lead to flooding and permanent loss of forests along the coast in southeastern New York. In all forests, changes in the timing of spring and fall frosts will increase damage to tree roots and flowers.
These changes will put increased stress on trees, resulting in:
- more tree damage and mortality
- changes in local tree species composition as growing conditions no longer support certain species
- lower seed production
- lower natural tree regeneration due to increased competition from invasive plants and higher levels of deer browse
- lower survival of planted trees
New York is Taking Action
New York State is working towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. As a part of these efforts, DEC's Division of Lands and Forests serves on the Agriculture and Forestry Advisory Panel, which provides recommendations and technical expertise to the New York Climate Action Council, a committee that will help to achieve the State's energy and climate agenda.
To maintain and increase the amount of carbon removed and stored in New York's forests, DEC's Division of Lands and Forests uses the following strategies:
- Keep forests as forests
- Plant more trees and forests across New York State
- Support the use of wood for long-term products and to replace fossil fuels
- Promote and use sustainable practices while harvesting timber and manage both State and privately-owned forests with carbon storage, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience in mind
Keep Forests as Forests
Forests sequester and store more carbon than any other type of land use because of trees' ability to absorb and hold on to carbon. However, forest land area in New York has been steadily declining over the past 10 years due to development and conversion to other types of land use, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions, from the removal of trees from the landscape and disturbance of forest soils, and the loss of the land's ability to sequester carbon on those sites. This strategy focuses on keeping forests on the landscape by preventing their conversion. Purchase of forest land by public entities like the State and local governments provides the most reliable long-term protection of forests. Currently, 4.8 million acres of forestland is owned by the State, local municipalities, or land trusts in New York.
Ongoing efforts to protect New York's forests include avoiding forest conversion by:
- The New York State 30x30 initiative to Conserve 30% of New York's Lands and Waters by 2030
- purchasing priority forested lands,
- reducing tax burdens on working forest owners,
- working with landowners to establish conservation easements,
- providing grants to municipalities and land trusts to purchase forest lands or establish conservation easements, and
- protecting New York's largest forest carbon stores within New York's Forest Preserve.
Plant New Trees and Encourage Natural Regeneration
Planting trees and allowing forests to naturally regrow removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, trees provide many important benefits including water filtration, flood prevention, wildlife habitat, and spaces for recreational activities. The areas that would benefit the most from tree planting or natural regeneration include open areas with little agricultural value, urban areas, and along rivers and streams.
DEC is currently taking efforts to scale up tree planting and natural regeneration support by:
- The New York State 25 million trees initiative to plant 25 million trees by 2033, which includes revitalizing DEC’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery and establishing the Community Reforestation (CoRe) grant program
- Working with experts and stakeholders to write a Reforestation Plan, which will serve as a roadmap to advance tree planting and natural regeneration support efforts for climate change
- Providing support for tree planting and natural regeneration including:
- Regenerate New York and Establishing Large Forests grant programs for private lands
- Community Reforestation (CoRe) and Urban and Community Forestry Grants for publicly-owned lands
Support the Wood Products Industry
Carbon can be stored in wood products for centuries, which is long enough to have a real impact on climate change. Using durable, long-lasting wood products to replace fossil fuel-intensive ones like plastic, concrete, or vinyl amplifies the benefits of managing our forests. According to the University of Washington, using wood to frame a house releases 26% less greenhouse gas emissions than steel and 31% less than concrete. This strategy focuses on creating and recycling durable wood products as well as replacing carbon-intensive products with wood. Additional information and guidance for forest product use in New York can be found on our Forest Products webpage.
Responsible Management and Timber Harvests
DEC manages State Forests for the greatest benefits for the people of New York, including recreation and biodiversity, and to promote long-term forest health. DEC harvests timber on State Forests according to the sustainability standards set by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®-C002027) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) - two organizations internationally recognized for establishing principles that ensure wood products come from responsibly managed forests. This strategy supports responsible forest management that ensure these forests remain healthy for generations, like following best management practices (such as minimizing soil disturbance and ensuring adequate tree regeneration) helps prepare forests for climate change by increasing climate resilience.
Learn more about some of the ways you can prepare forests for climate change.
Read more about DEC's timber harvest program on our Timber Sales on State Forests webpage.
Climate Actions for Landowners
74% of New York's forestland, and 97% of open lands available for reforestation are owned by private landowners. Are you one of them? There are several ways you can take action for climate change while still pursuing other goals for your land. When managing your forest, we suggest always using a professional forester (DEC Cooperating Forester Program).
Tree Assistance Programs
To increase the number of trees in New York State, grow new forests, and support natural regeneration, DEC offers trees and assistance through several programs. Learn more about how to properly plant a tree and be sure to add any trees you’ve planted to our 25 million tree tracker!
- Regenerate New York - Cost-share grant program to assist the growth of young forests
- Hudson River Estuary Program - Free, native trees and shrubs for qualifying planting projects in the Hudson River Estuary watershed
- School Seedling program - Free trees for schools and youth organizations
- Annual spring seedling sale - Low-cost tree and shrub seedlings from DEC's Nursery
- Community Reforestation (CoRe) and Urban and Community Forestry grant programs - Funding to help municipalities and not-for-profits establish and improve the health of urban and community forests
Prepare Your Forest for Climate Change
To help forests better survive a changing climate, landowners should consider:
- working with a forester to select the best management options for your forest (DEC Cooperating Forester program),
- growing many different tree species,
- encouraging the growth of more climate resilient species like oaks and hickories,
- maintaining a wide range of tree ages,
- keeping out or removing invasive species and deer to help trees regrow naturally, and
- minimizing soil disturbance.
The following guides provide additional information on making forests more resilient and forest’s role in climate change:
The following programs are available to landowners in New York to give additional technical assistance and/or funding for forest management.
- Forest Stewardship program - Landowners can connect with DEC foresters to receive personalized management guidance
- Regenerate New York - Cost-share grant program to restore degraded forests and natural regeneration
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - Financial assistance for landowners to improve forest health and productivity
- 480a Forest Tax Law program - Tax breaks to encourage the long-term sustainable management of woodlands
- Forest health and invasive species team - DEC experts identify, track, and control forest pests and diseases and invasive species