Giant sequoias from California, USA thrive in UK climate, study reveals | Biodiversity

England has proven to be a fertile land for giant sequoias, the world's largest trees. According to a study recently published in Royal Society Open Science, the species is growing at rates similar to those found in its native California in the United States.

They are still “small” compared to North Americans – they are 55 meters, compared to 90 meters for foreigners. But it happens because they are young. The first units found on the other side of the Atlantic were recorded about 160 years ago, and it is important to emphasize that this is a tree that can live for more than two thousand years.

There are an estimated 500,000 redwood trees in the United Kingdom. Most are giants (Sequoiadendron giganteum), but there are also littoral and dawn species, introduced later.

“Half a million trees is enough to go unnoticed until now, but when you start looking for them in the landscape and compiling these datasets you realize how many there are,” said one of the study's authors, Bill Wilkes, from Kew Botanic Gardens. , The BBC.

Since the Victorian era

The earliest specimens of the giant sequoia were planted in the United Kingdom during the reign of Queen Victoria, usually on the estates of the wealthy at the time. Now, ​​to find out how they adapt to location, researchers used laser scanners to select and measure a sample of nearly 5,000 trees at Wakehurst (England) and Benmore (Scotland) botanic gardens and Haring Country Park (England). Height and size of some trees.

According to Wilkes, the local climate appears favorable for its growth. “Where they grow in California, it's cool and wet. We have a fairly uniform climate — it's very humid and they need moisture to grow,” he said.

The scientists also analyzed the amount of CO2 absorbed by the trees. About 45 meters high, Wakehurst has between 10 and 15 tonnes of stored carbon. For comparison purposes, those in California, the largest, contain about 250 tons.

Despite their carbon sequestering ability, researchers say, redwoods have a unique contribution to make, planting giant sequoia forests may not be enough to significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Another thing to consider before any strategy is that climate conditions in the United Kingdom – as well as in other parts of the world – are changing – and this can affect the growth of these trees, which require very specific conditions to thrive in the wild.