Scenes from our Future: Georgia Savannas

Image from  http://www.georgiamtnrentals.com/

The image above is taken from the mountains of Northern Georgia, which are presently dominated by red oaks, rhododendrons, pines and mountain laurel. However, if climate change continues Georgia may experience permanent drought by 2030, with a decrease of 20% in annual rainfall.

The consequence? The northern forests of Georgia may be reduced to grasslands, similar to those in Florida. And Florida may be a barren desert, with much of its coast slipping under rising sea levels. Right now Georgia boasts a diversity of wildlife, but much of this will be lost as the habitat is destroyed. Streams like the one in this picture will be reduced to a trickle.

If climate change continues, the landscape of the world as we know it will change dramatically. The sites we are familiar with--the coast line, lush forests, roaring rivers--may no longer exist. It is frightening to imagine such a drastically different world, but this is the world we may leave to our children and grandchildren. This may be the world we grow old in. What steps can we take now to prevent it?