Terrestrial Resources

The dominant vegetative community type in the NPLCC is the coniferous temperate rainforest; sustained by fog and in many locations by more than 200 cm of rain annually delivered by marine weather patterns.  The commercial harvest of timber remains among the most important socio-economic drivers in the NPLCC.   Each tree species distribution can be viewed as adaptation to particular climate factors that have been very dynamic over the millennia.  As changes to these factors accelerate due to climate trends, the mix of species at a given location or elevation is likely to change due to individual tree species migrations and local extinctions.  Temperature and precipitation are primary drivers affecting the state of these forests.  Elevation and snow depth at high elevations, glaciation (in the north) and slope aspect (particularly in the south) help define the climate niche of individual tree species and shape habitat characteristics of the forest community as a whole.   Climate-driven changes in forest biomes are now emerging, including insect infestations triggered by warming and/or drought (these effects connect this topic to Topic E).  Projected temperature and precipitation changes are not uniform throughout the NPLCC, and their effects are uncertain.