A study by Natural Resources Canada says climate change in the Maritimes may lead to a gradual reduction in the growth of softwood trees.

A report by CBC News says the Natural Resources Canada study marks the first region-wide assessment of the composition and growth of the Acadian Forest to the end of this century. Assuming that greenhouse gas emissions continue at “business as usual” levels, the study says the woodlands will experience an average temperature rise of 7 C by the end of the 21st century. As a result, in the latter half of the century trees like red spruce will decline in abundance between 10 to 20 per cent when compared with 2011, while the hardwoods that prefer warmer climates will increase.

The study’s author, scientist Anthony Taylor told CBC News: “It’s suggesting … by the end of the century those particular species that the industry relies heavily on will not be performing as well as they are today.”

“It’s very worrying. … When the timber supply is reduced by a certain percentage you get a similar reduction in the forestry sector and that’s a lot of money,” said Van Lantz, a professor of forestry economics at the University of New Brunswick.

Read the full CBC article here.