Florida palm trees dying as seas rise, experts say

[ Florida ] A group of Florida ecologists believe rising sea level from global warming gradually will kill off palms and other Florida trees that can ‘ t stand all the salt. The problem could worsen in more populous parts of east Central and South Florida , they say, as increased groundwater withdrawals lead to saltier ground water welling up and stressing palm tree roots. “The rate of trees dying is much faster than we anticipated,” said Jack Putz, a University of Florida botany professor who led the research. “Places that were forests in 1970 are now salt marsh.” They also found southern red cedars and several other tree species dying off

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