"Reforestation's Century-Long Impact on Cooling the Eastern US"
A new study suggests that widespread reforestation in the eastern United States during the 20th century helped counter rising temperatures due to climate change, leading to a cooling effect in the region. The research highlights the potential of forests as regional climate adaptation tools and emphasizes the need for both reforestation and a decrease in carbon emissions. The study found that forests in the eastern U.S. today cool the land's surface and lower near-surface air temperatures, with the cooling effect extending to unforested parts of the landscape. While reforestation is considered a viable strategy for climate mitigation, its impact on other environmental factors must be carefully evaluated.