Rising temperatures and severe droughts in Europe are pushing forest ecosystems to their limits. In France, tree mortality rates have doubled over the last decade, with scientists warning that 30 percent of species could decline by 2050 due to gas embolism and starvation. This widespread forest stress threatens the ability of European woodlands to act as carbon sinks. As trees shut down photosynthesis to conserve water, the capacity for natural carbon sequestration drops, complicating regional climate goals.
