Tree-ring study displays effects of climate change

Dr. Pieter Zuidema, a senior lecturer at Wageningen University, shared the lessons learned from his tree-ring research in Thailand, Bolivia and Viet Nam. He updated participants on the impacts of climate change on tropical forests and ecosystems in general, tree-rings in particular. The tree-ring research serves as a foundation in figuring out the causes of long term forest change, including recovery from disturbance, increase in nutrients, change in climatic conditions, etc. The research also illustrates that the future role of tropical forests is identified toward mitigating negative impacts resulting from climate change. Dr. Zuidema explained that through recent changes such as increases in nutrients, CO2 fertilization, changes in climate conditions and the ability to recover from disturbances, many of the trees in tropical forests are growing in size and holding higher amounts of carbon than in the past. This acclimation of carbon paired combined with CO2 fertilization may reduce negative effects of global warming.

The guest-lecture was an excellent opportunity to update HUAF’s lecturers and students with new knowledge and methodology in regional tree-ring research, as well as from studies conducted in other countries. The information will now be used to enhance research and research result performed at HUAF.