Ojibwe Tribe and other Wisconsin Tribes. During late winter and early spring, these trees

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1 Forrest Gauthier ES 600 Conaway, Hitch Capstone Paper Draft 13 April 2015 Climate Vulnerability Assessment: Sugar Maples Introduction Sugar maple trees have a cultural significance and still are depended on by the Bad River Ojibwe Tribe and other Wisconsin Tribes. During late winter and early spring, these trees provide a sugary sap that is boiled down and concentrated to maple syrup. It provides subsistence to the Bad River Ojibwe over the long Wisconsin winters. With the onset of climate change, sugar maples are susceptible to the warming temperature, which endangers the species in Wisconsin and the Bad River Reservation. Sensitivity Sugar maple trees are susceptible to decline due to warming temperatures. The USDA Forest Service predicts a decrease in sugar maple dominance. Sugar maples favor colder temperatures, and therefore, increasing temperatures would move their geographic range north, with the warming temperatures favoring southern species. Sugar maple is projected to lose areas of suitable habitat along the southern boundary of the assessment area under both climate scenarios, with a much greater loss of habitat projected under GFDL A1FI models (Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework Project, 94).

2 Projected Changes in Temperature Winter temperatures have increased 3.5 to 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit from 1950 to 2006 in northwest Wisconsin (WICCI). The average temperature increase has been 2.5 degrees across Wisconsin. Winter months in Wisconsin have witnessed the greatest change in warming. Summer temperatures have remained relatively stable, with temperatures only rising 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit. However, future projections expect a 3-8 degree increase in temperature (WICCI). Northern Wisconsin would see the highest temperature rise, mostly along the shores of Lake Superior. Increased warming could lead sugar maples to move further north, as the species would become less favorable to the region. Southern tree species would be more favorable to the warmer temperature, decreasing sugar maple dominance in Wisconsin. Temperature plays a key role in the production of maple syrup. As climate change increases temperatures, the freezing and thawing period would decrease, limiting the amount of sap that could be tapped and also affecting the quality of the syrup. Tree roots of sugar maple and other northern hardwoods are generally frost intolerant, and lack of adequate snow cover exposes these shallow roots to freezing conditions. (Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework Project, 115). Sugar maples are shallowrooted trees so they are particularly vulnerable to freezing if there is little or no snow cover. Frost related mortality has been observed in other related forest-types across the United States (Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework Project, 114). What exacerbates this problem is what occurs with invasive European earthworms, and their effect on the forest floor. Earthworms remove the leaf litter which provides the top layer of soil and provides soil nutrients.

3 The removal of this layer not only reduces the amount of nutrients in the soil, but leaves the forest floor further exposed to frost and erosion. Increased, Sporadic Precipitation Increased, sporadic precipitation could lead to soil erosion, sedimentation, and flooding. The Bad River Reservation s unique soils are particularly susceptible to these conditions. Intense precipitation impacts from flooding and soil erosion may also become more damaging (Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework, 124). With the removal of the leaf litter layer from invasive species, rain drops from heavy rains contribute to soil erosion, further diminishing the distance from the sugar maples roots to the surface. The area s unique clay soils can be affected from either drought or flooding. With rising temperatures the clay soils can lose its moisture from prolonged sun exposure. It can also become saturated and flood low lying areas, drowning the plants and trees in the area affected. Recommendations With projected changes in both winter, and summer temperature averages rising by at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit by 2055, extensive actions are needed in combating climate change. The projection of suitable habitat for sugar maple decreases with increasing temperatures. With the entire world contributing to climate change, and each country contributing to a different degree, there should be an international effort to reduce climate change. Deforestation is negatively impacting the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Increasing deforestation limits the amount of carbon dioxide that can be used by plants and trees, and carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere from anthropogenic activities. Reforestation and

4 restoration of ecosystems can sequester carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. The Bad River Tribe does not contribute to deforestation. Providing education about the amount of deforestation that occurs globally could gain support to reduce the amount of trees lost. By monitoring sugar maple habitat, changes could be observed over time and the trend of sugar maple growth, and range due to climate change. Negative changes can further increase the awareness of the impacts of climate change. Observed changes can also help to develop projects, and conservation efforts to keep sugar maple abundance in Northern Wisconsin. Conclusion Climate change is a serious issue that needs to be considered. The impacts it will have on sugar maple in Wisconsin and other species across the world will have consequences for every community that have relied on those resources for hundreds of years. The increase in temperature will limit the amount of sap that can be harvested, and other impacts a warming temperature would have on the ecosystem. If the sugar maple range is pushed out of Wisconsin, the Bad River Tribe, other Wisconsin tribes, and people who depend on sugar maples will no longer be able to harvest sap to make maple sugar. Its importance for the Bad River Ojibwe is high and without it, their cultural is affected. The sugar maple tree is called the inininaatig, which means Man Tree. The story behind the inininaatig is that it s the women s responsibility to harvest the sap since it s the women s responsibility to care for the water, and the man is responsible to watch the fire during the processing stage. The story signifies a balanced relationship with all living things, and when there is no tree to tell that story, it starts to change the Bad River Ojibwe culturally.

5 References Janowiak, M., Iverson, L., Mladenoff, D., Peters, E., Wythers, K., Xi, W.,... Ziel, R. (2014, September 8). Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis for Northern Wisconsin and Western Upper Michigan: A Report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework Project. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Retrieved from Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts - WICCI : Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved from