University of Montana’s Dr. Steven Running warns of heightened possibility of catastrophic forest fires affecting up to 360,000 people living in forested areas and costing upward of $21 billion.

Winters in the northern Rocky Mountains will shorten and the region’s forests will become more susceptible to insect infestation and severe forest fires as a result of climate change over the next century, according to a recently released study.

In fact, supporting data have already become evident, said University of Montana forestry professor Steve Running http://www.ntsg.umt.edu/ , an international expert on climate change.

Running conducted the two-year study, funded by the National Commission on Energy Policy, a bipartisan nonprofit organization that evaluates key policy issues related to energy.

It’s not often Running, who shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his study of global climate change, holds a news conference to summarize the findings of his research. But the impacts of drought in the northern Rocky Mountains – primarily Montana, Wyoming and Idaho – will be significant to the region’s economy, wildlife and environment, he said.

By CHELSI MOY of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_544db786-fb4e-11de-805b-001cc4c002e0.html

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