Climate Change Impacts on Forest Ecosystems

This assignment explores the multifaceted impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. It delves into the projected effects of climate change on these ecosystems, highlighting the challenges posed by rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. The assignment emphasizes the importance of adaptation strategies at the local level to mitigate the inevitable consequences of climate change. Risk management approaches are discussed for identifying areas most susceptible to change, and forest management practices are recommended to enhance resilience and adaptability.

INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND
ECOSYSTEM IN THE FORESTS OF SOUTH WESTERN
AUSTRALIA

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Present- Day Environment of the South-West Australia...........................................................4
Factors responsible for Change in Climate in South-West Western Australia......................5
Outcrops of prospected climate in south-west Western Australia.........................................6
Impacts of Climate change on the Ecosystem............................................................................7
Water Stress in SWAA...........................................................................................................7
Pests and pathogens................................................................................................................7
Altered fire regimes................................................................................................................8
Managing Climatic Variation.....................................................................................................8
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................11

TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Impact of Climate Change on Economy.....................................................................4
Figure 2: Conserving the Ecosystem..........................................................................................5
Figure 3: Factors causing Global Warming...............................................................................6
Figure 4: Management of Forest Ecosystem..............................................................................9
Figure 5: Structural Changes through Mitigation and Adaption..............................................10

Introduction
Climate is known for its changing character over geological period due to the result of
a natural cycle and other happenings which comprise volcanic eruptions etc (Anderegg and
Leander 2013). Presently, it has been assessed that global climate change has resulted mostly
due to release of certain gas and forest clearing, agricultural production and practices.
Changes in the intensity and frequency of severe weather conditions have been assessed
throughout the world. Present essay revolves around Climate change and ecosystem in the
forests of SouthWestern Australia. Climate change can be seen as both an economic problem
and an environmental one.Damage cost to all the organisms of the ecosystem from more
severe weather and health problems related to high temperatures have taken a major stake. A
shift from a fossil fuel-based energy system to low-carbon technologies will require
significant investment which will also have an economic impact on the world.
Present- Day Environment of the South-West Australia
The climate of SWWA has moist cool winters and warm dry summers. The forests
have received rainfallmore than 1,200mm on annual basis and the reason behind same is
various environmental reasons. Rainfall in these areas is strongly seasonal with 80% of the
rainfall evaluated during period between May to October. The area also receives monthly
rainfall below 25mm during December to Februarywhich are the three driest months of the
area. In the recent years, SWWA has experienced a turn down in rainfall due to increase in
temperature. According to Gilbertand et.al. 2014 Such anthropological changes are able to
significantly affect biodiversityand strengthof the ecosystem, theproductivity of the forest,
services of ecosystem and amenities in SWWA. The forest management planning will have to
get ready for preventing the effect of foreseeablechanges in climate.
In accordance with Department of Environment and Conservation (2012), SWWA’s
organization relating to forest ecosystems is headed by the FMP (Conservation Commission
of Western Australia which was founded in 2004. The FMP has adopted a framework known
as Montreal Criteria of sustainability for identifying management actions for prolonging
forest management. The standard are selected by the team are-
Biodiversity preservation,

Maintaining productive capacity,
Preservation of strengthof the ecosystem,
The preservation and safeguarding of soil and water,
The upholding of the global carbon cycle,
The protection of socio-economic values related to heritage.
Figure 1: Conserving the Ecosystem
(Source: Burrows and Lachlan McCaw, 2013)
Factors responsible for Change in Climate in South-West Western Australia
Recent decades, the weather of SWWA has been characterised by warm and dry
months most of the year. Since 1970s, thetemperature has increased every year and that too at
an alarming rate in all seasons including summer. Perhaps decreases in early winter rain have
also been observed. A major decline in the very high rainfall years is a matter of concern as it
became usual in the previous century. There has also been a decrease in late winter rainfall. A
serious implication of these reduced rainfalls is the reduction of streamflow andsurface water.

Figure 2: Factors causing Global Warming
Outcrops of prospected climate in south-west Western Australia
In SWWA, the elongated duration of dry surroundings and the evident greenhouse
effect is forcing the agencies of natural reserve management to arrange for an unpredictable
future. These preparations are based on the estimation of the climate in terms of
Whether or not there are chances of wetter conditions?
Will the dry season continue for more years?
The answer to these questions is of greatestimplication for the
agricultureadministration,conservation of biodiversity and managing forests and water funds.
The main instrument for estimating future climate change is theGlobal Climate Models
(GCMs). These models are acombination of numerical symbols of the physical procedures
that happen in an ecosystem and interactions between the Earth’s surface, atmosphere and
oceans. Each GCMoperates with different assumptions. As a consequence, all the GCMs in
operation reflect major differences in the projections of future climate. Similarly, the extent
of future emissions of the greenhouse gas is also uncertainbecause different society may
respond differently to climate change. Projecting the future climate usually involves theuse of
various methods with multiple emissions for specifying a variety of suspicions.

By 2030 all models indicate an increase in warmth and lower rainfall for the region.
The outcrops also reflect a warming for the period during half-year winter. Increases in
temperature are projected for the half-year summer. Moreover, variations in climate
conditions for a particular area, the projections also reveal anincrease in the existence of
droughts;high range of maximum temperatures and prolonged heat waves. The real climate
change for SWWA will be in accordance with the rate at which the world curbs the emission
of greenhouse gases. Currently, the global emissions are increasing at an alarming rate.
Impacts of Climate change on the Ecosystem
A profound effect is been exerted by Climate on the patterns of forest biodiversity in
SWWA. As per “Theconversation” (2012), the current patterns and adaptations reflect the
effects of climate oscillationsof the past. The indirect impacts will be
analternationininteractions of different species, hydrology and stream flow and the intensity
of existing threats to biodiversity.
Water Stress in SWAA
The deficit in rainfall has altered the ecosystem of SWWA in terms of composition
and productivity. Warm temperatures and reduced level of groundwater have impacted the
availability of water to plants which have been suffering from water stress. The projected
increase in thefrequency of droughts in further expected to exaggerate the condition
(Spalding and et.al 2013). This will cause thelarge rate of tree mortality in the forest through
disruptions of water from leaf and stem. Reduced water level increases the risk of cavitation
in theplant through thelow amount of CO2 being transferred to tree stomata, thereby reducing
photosynthesis resulting in thedeath of trees.
Pests and pathogens
According to Matusicz and et.al (2013), water stress in the tress might decrease their
confrontation to insect and sickness outbreaks. Moreover, changes in climatic conditions tend
to directly impact the inhabitants of forest creepy-crawly creatures and pathogens. Some of
the enormous outbreaks of forest creepy-crawly creatures that lead to thedeath of trees can
also be directly attributed to changed climate factors. Some of these pathogens attack and kill
thehealthy trees over large areas. These beetles can only be killed at extreme cold winter
temperatures which have now become a history.

Altered fire regimes
The fire regimes of forest play a major part in the cycling of nutrients, primary
productivity and dynamics ecosystem in SWWA. The intensity, scale, season and frequency
are together known as the fire regime. Fire regimes are dependent upon climate, vegetation
and topography which serve as fuels and sources of ignition. As per Keenan and Rodney
(2015), leaving aside the factor of topography, all other factors are subjected to modification
by global weather variations. The survival of juvenile plants may adversely be impacted from
post-fireFrost, drought or heavy grazing resulting in long term changes in the composition of
species.
Figure 3: Management of Forest Ecosystem
(Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2014)
Managing Climatic Variation
Mitigation & adaptation to the anthropogenic climatic changes areessential for
coping with the same.
Mitigation may include theintervention of human for reducing the sources of
greenhouse gases and thereby reducingchanges in climate.
Variationmay refer to an action that tends to reduce the exposure of natural and
human systems against actual or forecasted effects of variations in climate.

It is only through International Cooperation that mitigation can be achieved. On
the other hand, adaptation is essentially a step on the local level.
For future years, it has forecasted thatclimate changes which are unmitigated, are
likely to go above the adaptable capacity of natural ecosystem.
Current studies have suggested that to evade from the evilest effects of climate
change, levels of atmospheric CO2, are to be reduced at every step
(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2014).
Figure 4: Structural Changes through Mitigation and Adoption
(Source: Grimm and et.al. 2016)
However, there is asignificant amount of uncertainty on how the ecosystems will
become accustomed to the ever-changing climate and degree to which specified species are
exposed to this change, small steps can be used to cause major changes in the present day
ecosystem.
Conclusion
Although reducing or stabilising the emissions of greenhouse gasesmay, however,
slows down the process of global warming, the past emissions are expected to continue
contributing to an inescapable warming and relative climatic changes for at least more than a
century. With projected climate modificationsclear signs of difficulty have been reflected in
attainingworldwide alleviationin the short term. Thus, Adaptation on the local level to the
inevitable climate is need of the hour. It is very complex to predict future effects which the

climate changes may pose on the forest ecosystems. Thus it is very important to incorporate
uncertainty into adaptation planning. For the purpose of identifying areas where the change is
to affect the most, a basic approach to risk management can be used. Forest management to
improve the flexibility of the mitigation and adaption plans is advised along with the use of
appropriate tools for estimating the future changes.

References
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mortality triggered by drought and temperature stress." Nature climate change 3, no. 1
(2013): 30.
Burrows, Neil, and Lachlan McCaw. "Prescribed burning in South-western Australian
forests." Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 11. No. s1 (2013).
Department Of Environment and Conservation. 2012. Vulnerability of Forests in South-West
Western Australia to Timber Harvesting Under the Influence of Climate Change. [PDF].
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Glibertand et.al. "Vulnerability of coastal ecosystems to changes in harmful algal bloom
distribution in response to climate change: projections based on model analysis." Global
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Grimm and et.al. "Climate change impacts on ecosystems and ecosystem services in the
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(2016): 97-109.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change 2014–Impacts, Adaptation and
Vulnerability: Regional Aspects. Cambridge University Press. 2014.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change 2014–Impacts, Adaptation and
Vulnerability: Regional Aspects. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Keenan and Rodney. "Climate change impacts and adaptation in forest management: a
review." Annals of forest science 72, no. 2 (2015): 145-167.
Kløve and et al. "Climate change impacts on groundwater and dependent
ecosystems." Journal of Hydrology. 518 (2014): 250-266.
\88Matusicz and et.al. "Sudden forest canopy collapse corresponding with extreme drought
and heat in a Mediterranean-type eucalypt forest in south-western Australia." European
Journal of Forest Research 132. No. 3 (2013): 497-510.
Spalding andet.al. "The role of ecosystems in coastal protection: adapting to climate change
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Online
The conversation. 2012. Western Australia’s catastrophic forest collapse. [PDF]. Available
through <https://theconversation.com/western-australias-catastrophic-forest-collapse-6925>.
[Accessed on 3rd October 2017].