I read an article in The Atlantic today about the Baobab trees in Africa dying, and thought about what I am seeing in Georgia. Our region is seeing a slow die off of flora and fauna due to climate change, like the Baobab in Africa. Our famous Georgia peach trees are a great example. Once a popular crop in south Georgia, the climate has changed enough over twenty years that most farmers gave up and middle Georgia farmers began production. Sadly, climate change has affected middle Georgia enough that peach farming is moving to the north Georgia mountain region, which is a gamble at best because the area is not ideal for peaches due to late freeze cycles.
Our coastal communities are seeing the most change as the water rises in small amounts, warms to the point of hindering sea and marsh life, and brings higher tides and the erosion of the marshes and dunes. Fresh water sources on islands are already being overtaken by saltwater, and our gorgeous Live Oaks (see picture) are dying along the coast due to slow moving storms, tides, salination, and loss of soil. Communities are making plans, though, because when you live close to and in harmony with the land you see the changes over time and prepare. Coastal Georgians know climate change is real and happening - we see it in action.
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/06/baobab-trees-dying-climate-change/562499/
Photo compliments of Unsplash
