{
  "id": 12788928,
  "title": "North Carolina lost 21% of coastal forests in just 36 years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/north-carolina-lost-21-of-coastal-forests-in-just-36-years",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-08T04:36:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/earth/north-carolina-lost-about-21-of-its-coastal-forests-between-1985-and-2021-roughly-64220-hectares-researchers-found-the-decline-accelerated-after-2010-as-marsh-ghost-forest-and-shrubs-replaced-trees/articleshow/134756203.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Between 1985 and 2021, North Carolina's coastal forests dwindled by 21%, amounting to a loss of roughly 64,220 hectares. This stark decline is primarily attributed to rising sea levels, escalating salinity, and the coastal area's proximity to water bodies. The research, conducted by North Carolina State University and published in PLOS One, reveals that this forest loss accelerated notably after 2010.\n\nThe Albemarle Peninsula, a low-lying region encompassing both private lands and protected areas like the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, was the primary focus of the study. From 1985 to 2021, forest cover dwindled from around 304,729 hectares to 269,970 hectares, marking a substantial 21.1% reduction.\n\nHowever, this decline was not uniform over the 36-year period. Between 2010 and 2021, approximately 23,876 hectares of forest were converted into marshes, shrubs, or ghost forests - nearly double the 16,968 hectares that underwent similar transformations between 1985 and 2010.\n\nOne of the most visible manifestations of this change is the proliferation of ghost forests. These areas consist of freshwater-dependent trees that have perished as saltwater encroaches inland, leaving behind stands of pale, lifeless trees flanked by shrubs or marsh vegetation. The researchers observed a significant surge in ghost forest area, increasing by about 7,561 hectares between 2010 and 2021, compared to 3,087 hectares during the earlier 1985-2010 span, suggesting a rate of expansion that was roughly 2.5 times higher in the latter period.\n\nThe underlying cause is fairly simple. As sea levels rise, saltwater can infiltrate further inland and elevate coastal water tables, exposing tree roots to conditions they cannot withstand. Additionally, saturated soils can become oxygen-poor, imposing further stress on trees.\n\nNorth Carolina's Forest Service has previously observed a similar phenomenon, indicating that saltwater intrusion and rising coastal groundwater can result in forests laden with standing dead trees. According to the agency, as of 2024, over 61,000 acres of forestland in eastern North Carolina had been mapped due to sea-level rise.\n\nEarlier studies have also demonstrated how swiftly this transformation can occur. A 2020 NOAA study revealed that 15% of unmanaged public land in coastal North Carolina transformed from forest to transitional ghost forest between 2001 and 2014, with salinity and proximity to estuarine shorelines among the primary contributors.\n\nSea-level rise is not the sole factor driving this decline. The researchers identified areas that experienced severe drought between 2007 and 2011, as well as the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in 2011, which failed to fully recover. Such events can leave coastal forests more susceptible to saltwater and prolonged flooding. Once trees succumb, salt-tolerant shrubs and marsh vegetation can migrate into the area, propelling the landscape towards a different ecological state. The study also found that over 30,000 hectares of forest loss was converted into cultivated land, while other areas turned into shrubland, marsh, water, or ghost forest. Of the 64,220 hectares of net forest loss, approximately 33,884 hectares transitioned into those natural coastal vegetation and water categories.\n\nUtilizing satellite imagery in conjunction with an artificial intelligence model to classify various land cover types, the researchers compiled decades of change. They juxtaposed Landsat imagery with the newer, higher-resolution Sentinel-2 data. While Sentinel-2 proved more effective when both systems were tested against the same 2021 landscape, Landsat provided a much longer historical record, which was crucial for tracing how the coastal landscape evolved from 1985 onward. The researchers also discovered that integrating seasonal and topographic information enhanced the model's capability to differentiate ghost forests from other vegetation. The study posits that these findings can aid in identifying coastal areas most susceptible to ongoing forest retreat. Previous work in the region has similarly indicated that ghost forests serve as an early warning sign of saltwater intrusion and rising seas, making their expansion a useful indicator of broader coastal changes.",
  "summary": "Over the last 36 years, North Carolina's coastal forests have seen a dramatic decrease in forest cover. The decline sped up after 2010 due to rising sea levels and increased salinity. The research revealed a troubling shift, with once green areas transforming into marshes, shrubs, or ghost forests. Moreover, extreme weather events have intensified the threat of saltwater intrusion, making these…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}