Diné forests: unraveling early warning signs in tree rings

Diné forests face escalating challenges from changing climate, impacting forest health and resilience. Tree rings collected within a forestry inventory are enhancing our understanding of forest dynamics on the Navajo Nation. In this presentation, we share the results of this study, conducted in partnership with the Navajo Forestry Department (NFD), combining dendrochronological analyses and forest inventory by employing a stratified random subsample of NFD’s Continuous Forest Inventory to assess the responses of Diné forests to climate variability. Our results highlight the vulnerabilities of Diné forests to changing climate at three scales - trees, stands, and the landscape. This research not only contributes vital insights into Diné forest health but also serves as a model for integrative research approaches in forest science.