Changing Climate

The PCTR is highly sensitive to changes in climate. Already, the region is experiencing among the highest rates of glacial mass loss on the planet, and shifts in forest type and increased forest fire activity in some regions are occurring. Changes in snowpack, storm patterns and severity, and seasonal drought are just a few of the impacts the PCTR is likely to face. These real and predicted changes underscore the need for a better understanding of the ecosystem functions of the coastal temperate rainforest.