ENGL 1100 Research Essay: Global Warming and Forest Ecosystems

This essay examines the impact of global warming on forest ecosystems, focusing particularly on the Boreal ecosystem of Canada. It argues that global warming causes substantial alterations to this ecosystem, supported by evidence of increased forest fires, melting permafrost, and deforestation. The essay discusses the role of fire cycles in the taiga, the release of trapped carbon dioxide and methane, and the effects of human activities on the forest cover. It also addresses counterarguments from climate change deniers and highlights the importance of conservation measures. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for individual and collective action to reduce carbon footprints and protect forest ecosystems, asserting that the destruction of nature will ultimately lead to human extinction. Desklib provides various study tools and solved assignments for students.

THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON THE FOREST ECOSYSTEM

2
THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON THE FOREST ECOSYSTEM
Introduction
Global warming is the steady rise of the earth’s temperature, and its subsequent
impact to the earth. Even though global warming is a naturally occurring phenomenon, there
is no denying to the fact that it has been accelerated by unchecked human activity, or in other
words, the global climate change is anthropogenic. The largely looming issue of global
warming is clearly seen in certain natural changes such as increasing oceanic levels, extreme
weather changes, increased frequency and intensity of natural phenomena, melting glaciers
and snow caps, increased heat and humidity levels, etc. More changes have occurred since
1950, after the scientific revolution, rather than the changes that have occurred since the late
1800’s (Cahill, Rahmstorf and Pammel 9). However, the human activities that have
accelerated these changes sadly go unchecked.
Global Warming plays an important role in changing the balance of an ecosystem,
thus altering the habits and habitats of the life forms in it. Massive amount of forest cover has
been lost due to global warming, whose deforestation was ironically the cause for global
warming to intensify. The natural adaptation of the life forms to the climate change would
eventually prove to be detrimental to humans, and to the man-made concept of “country”, and
“economy”. The influence of the climate change on Canada’s forest cover and its impact on
life will be discussed in this essay.
Thesis Statement
The statement of this thesis that is to be discussed is “Global Warming causes a substantial
alteration to the Boreal ecosystem of Canada.”

3
Canada is the world’s second largest landscape, and is primarily in the northern part
of the northern hemisphere, which makes it a climatically, geologically, and geographically
active zone. The boreal forests of Canada, or the taiga, is the world’s largest “Intact Forest
Landscape”, where in most of the forest cover is undisturbed by human exploitation. The
purpose of choosing this particular forest ecosystem is to discuss the effects of climate
change on it by ruling out the direct impact of human activity.
To prove the thesis statement, a synthesis of various evidences of any unnatural
alteration of the ecosystem due to global warming, and the measures taken to combat this
issue shall be discussed. Any conflicting evidence shall also be considered, and debated upon.
Evidence – Reasoning and Rebuttals
The Canadian taiga is easily susceptible to many natural calamities like forest fires, or
pest outbreaks, thus witnessing regular destruction, and subsequent regeneration. Even as
fires are integral to the taiga as a part of the ecosystem, the global climate change tends to
cause fires with rapid intensity, thus causing irreversible changes to the ecological balance of
the forest. The fire-cycle of the boreal forests causes regeneration and proliferation of the
forests, but if the fires tend to be prolonged, and occur out of cycle, the forests might be
destroyed. The increased fires can be attributed to an estimated increase of 2° Celsius in the
overall forest temperature in the last 70 years, which has led to drier climatic conditions
(Gauthier, Bernier and Kuuluvainen 819).
Experts fear that the destruction of the boreal ecosystem of Canada could prove very
detrimental to the world at large. Global warming has caused an increase of temperature,
leading to melting of the permafrost ice caps and glaciers. This would slowly release the
enormous amount of carbon-di-oxide and methane that was trapped in the soil, leading to
even further increase in temperatures. This would cause a vicious cycle. Firsthand witnesses

4
and longitudinal cohort studies have shown drastic changes in the forest cover. The necessity
to maintain the boreal ecosystem as an intact forest landscape is essential to control the
effects of global warming. The regular fire cycles tend to add on to the soil cover, thus
creating an insulation layer to prevent thawing and escape of the carbon-di-oxide and
methane gases that are frozen underneath the soil (Turetsky, Benscoter and Page 11). Studies
show that the slow and steady disappearance of the boreal forests could set the ball rolling for
the unchecked global climate change at an alarming speed.
Deforestation is another major cause for concern in the boreal forests of Canada,
especially in the southern part, where human population is high. Even though most of the
deforestation has been reported outside the taiga, and is done primarily for agricultural
purposes, it is still a matter of concern, as the implementation of irrigation techniques and
pesticide use would harm the forest region (Dyk, Leckie and Tinis 4). Also, the advent of
industrial and technological advancement has led to boring and drilling the earth for
hydrocarbons and oils, which has led to slackening of the growth of the southern part of the
taiga. The shrinking forest cover would heavily impact the life systems in the boreal
ecosystem, thus accelerating climate change.
The taiga of Canada is pushed from its natural boundaries into migration, owing to the
ensuing climatic change which has proved to be non-conducive to its growth and
proliferation. Even though this is the natural pattern, the process might not be quick enough
to be affected by the deforestation and other unfavorable conditions, thus resulting in death of
certain flora and fauna (Zhu, Woodall and Ghosh 251). This would lead to large scale
destruction of the boreal ecosystem. Assisted migration of the forest would help keep the
species alive, and however tedious it might be with a lot of factors to consider, it is the best
way to sustain the forest cover.

5
Even though Global climate change is a very grave issue and is very seriously being
considered by almost everyone, there is a large population that is indifferent to it, or even
worse who deny it. Usually, it is the fossil fuel industry that has constantly been the flag
bearers of climate change denial due to vested interests, even though it has been scientifically
proven otherwise (Lewandowsky, Oreskes and Risbey 1). The urge for action is seen by
many as an unwanted hype, based on the theory of “global warming hiatus” However, this
has been proven to be a temporary plateau in the permanent temperature rise. Nevertheless, a
considerable percentage of the general populace of Canada is aware of the impact of climate
change, and tends to be co-operative to conservation measures and laws.
Conclusion
Global warming is inevitable process of the earth’s life cycle. Climate change is for
real, for we can see it. The slow but steady destruction of the world’s largest boreal
ecosystem is happening right before our eyes, and we, sadly are not in a position to do
anything about it. Scientists, politicians, and environmentalists are at each other’s throats
over this issue, and yet Nature’s game plan continues unabated. From an individual point of
view, one must learn to reduce his/her carbon footprint, and ensure that he/she does not take
part in activities that are directly detrimental to the environment. At this point, we need to be
aware of our forest cover, its characteristics, how to help sustain it, and how to assist the
world leaders in conserving it. With human existence came destruction of nature, and with
destruction of nature will come human extinction.
Thus, the thesis statement Global Warming causes a substantial alteration to the
Boreal ecosystem of Canada was discussed with evidences, and stands defended.

6
Works Cited
Cahill, Niamh, et al. "Change points of global temperature." Environmental Research Letters
(2015): 084002.
Dyk, A, et al. Canada's National Deforestation Monitoring System: System Description.
Canada: Natural Resources Canada, Pacific Forestry Centre., 2015.
Gauthier, S, et al. "Boreal forest health and global change." Science (2015): 819-822.
Lewandowsky, S, et al. "Seepage: Climate change denial and its effect on the scientific
community." obal Environmental Change, (2015): 1-13.
Turetsky, Merritt R, et al. "Global vulnerability of peatlands to fire and carbon loss." Nature
Geoscience (2015): 1-11.
Zhu, K, et al. "Dual impacts of climate change: forest migration and turnover through life
history." Global change biology (2014): 251-264.