What is EMBER

Temperate conifer forests, like those in western North America, are important for storing carbon and helping reduce climate change. However, these forests are facing challenges from severe drought and more frequent, intense wildfires. These problems threaten the forests’ ability to store carbon, provide homes for animals, and supply wood for building. Scientists are working to understand how trees and tiny organisms in the soil respond to these stresses. By studying this, they hope to predict how forests will cope with future droughts and fires. The EMBER Institute is leading this research, looking at how living things in the forest interact with each other and their environment during times of stress. This knowledge will help us better protect and manage these valuable forests.