Greening Trend Accelerates
Recent studies reveal a tenfold increase in vegetation cover across the over the past four decades, correlating with rapid regional warming and more frequent extreme heat events.
The rate of greening has accelerated by over 30% in recent years, with satellite data showing an expansion of more than 400,000 square meters per year from 2016 to 2021.
Ecological Implications and Future Concerns
The introduction of more plant life, including mosses and some lichen, is expected to facilitate soil formation, potentially paving the way for non-native and invasive species.
Researchers emphasize the urgent need for further study to understand the climate and environmental mechanisms driving this greening trend, highlighting the potential for fundamental changes to the Peninsula's biology and landscape under future warming.