Western US forests facing permanent shift to shrubland due to wildfires

Increasingly intense and hot wildfires are causing a permanent ecological transformation across the Western United States, stretching from Oregon to New Mexico. Scientists warn that these high-intensity blazes are replacing ancient conifer forests with shrubland and poison oak, a shift that may affect up to 40 percent of Western conifer forests by the year 2100.

This transition from forest to shrubland carries significant environmental consequences. The loss of tree cover is expected to accelerate the melting of winter and spring snow, which is a critical water source for many Western states that rely on snowmelt for up to 75 percent of their water supply. Additionally, the loss of large, older trees reduces the landscape's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, potentially contributing to further warming.

Researchers note that a warmer, more arid climate creates a feedback loop by drying out soil and increasing atmospheric thirst, making vegetation even more susceptible to future fires.