Their seemingly ubiquitous ohi’a trees were dying at an astonishing rate. This is the biggest threat to our native forests that any of us have seen. Drought, disease, insects and wildfire are chewing up tens of millions of trees at an incredible pace, much of it driven by climate change. “We’re talking millions of trees killed, whole mountain sides dying,” Rizzo said. Bark beetles and mountain pine beetles, usually held in check by wet winters, now have more time to breed and roam.

Source: The Guardian September 19, 2016 10:52 UTC