Tiina Sanila-Aikio notes that this summer's unprecedented heat and dryness in Finnish Lapland have drastically affected the region, causing old reindeer herders to experience weather unlike anything they’ve seen before. Conifer trees, typically deep green, are turning orange, indicating widespread environmental distress. Historically, the boreal forests of the Sami homeland, which take centuries to mature, are now struggling under conditions far beyond natural variability. This transformation highlights a concerning trend in climate impacts on ancient ecosystems.
Bernt Nordman from WWF emphasizes the alarming change in Finland's carbon sink dynamics, stating, 'The narrative was that Finland's forests are a huge carbon sink that offsets emissions. This has changed very, very dramatically.' Once a reliable source of carbon absorption, the country’s extensive forests and peatlands have seen a significant decline in their capacity to absorb carbon, with the forest sink diminishing by about 90% since 2010, thereby jeopardizing Finland's ambitious climate targets.
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