To help prepare plant species from looming climate changes, scientists are deliberatly planting trees beyond their usual comfort zones in hopes that the plants will learn to adapt and thrive in the future.  While researchers should take into account potential, unforeseen ripple effects of the relocation, these Noah’s Ark-like experiments seem like a wise plan in anticipation of sudden climate shifts.  I’m usually in favor of allowing Mother Nature to dictate what grows where, but just as planned fires can preclude devastating forest fires, perhaps some climate gardening will help to deter larger disasters that threaten to wipe out entire species.

Among those currently taking an active role in the transplants is the government of British Columbia, which has allowed logging companies to replant seeds at higher elevations and this spring planted the Western larch just below the Arctic Circle, a much colder climate than where the tree normally grows.  The government’s project will continue with 48 plots around British Columbia, Washington state, Oregon, Montana and Idaho, and will test to see how 15 different tree species survive in hotter and colder climates.  I wouldn’t be surprised if animals were relocated for testing purposes, as they have been for other environmental reasons, but it’s a little easier to tell a tree to stay put I suppose.  What do you think about the plan?  Let us know in the comments section below.

Photo: alexindigo’s flickr photostream (creative commons)