New studies show that trees in the Andes Mountains are
trying to adapt to the changing climate by reproducing at higher locations on
mountains, where the air is cool enough to support their existence. Unfortunately, they might not be moving fast
enough up the hills to adapt to the climate change. The average tree species
are shifting at about 8 to 12 feet up a mountain per year. Because of rising temperatures, trees have to shift over 20 feet per year to remain at their desired temperature.
Researchers believe that more than 50 percent of current tropical species could die off
by 2100 or sooner.
However, there are ways these species could be saved. One
way is to implement policies to sharply reduce greenhouse gases, especially in
the United States and China, where more than 40 percent of greenhouse gases are
dispersed. Additionally, countries with rich tropical forests need to protect
their forests, instead of mining and drilling for natural resources underneath
them.
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