A study in the White Mountains of New Hampshire examines the impact of acid rain and logging on forest recovery over 60 years. Researchers found that regrowing forests in deforested areas are mining nutrients from rocks, enhancing stream pH but depleting soil nutrients, making them less resilient to future pollution. The research examined three watersheds, revealing that the clear-cut watershed showed less acidity than control watersheds despite identical acid rain inputs. Regenerating forests benefited from nutrient mining, especially by American beech trees, yet experienced declining soil fertility. The long-term study highlights risks for ecosystems due to nutrient loss and changing species dynamics, particularly the decline of sugar maple, vital for local culture. This underscores how sustained environmental monitoring can illuminate the lasting effects of deforestation and acid rain, revealing vulnerabilities for future acidification.
Restoring Forests: How Acid Rain Recovery Enriches Soils and Stream Health
By Terrain News
