4.6 Vegetation

The changing climate has had visible impacts on vegetation, trees in particular. There is the abovementioned issue of ‘drunken trees’ in permafrost areas, but there is also the concern of the northward spread of spruce bud worm. This issue, along with drier summers, could significantly impact the ecosystem, as well as increase the risk of forest fires. With drier summers some participants remarked the vegetation is looking wilted, more yellow, and generally unhealthy, and one particularly well known wetland area where many birds used to come to nest in the spring is now very dry, with noticeably less water and vegetation growing in the area; and almost no migratory birds are returning in the spring.

4.6 Vegetation