Leaves are already turning in northern New England, signaling that the region’s famed foliage season – estimated by the U.S. Forest Service to bring in $8 billion in tourism revenue annually – is underway. This benefits the rural communities that count on booming business in the autumn, but risks a deluge of visitors to newly viral “instagrammable” spots without the infrastructure to support high traffic.
This year, visitors to Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island (the six states that comprise New England) can expect to see the return of vibrant reds that have been dull in recent years. Foliage is also expected to arrive on a “normal” timeline in many parts of the region, with peak colors forecast for early October into Indigenous People’s Day weekend.
Looking toward the future, however, scientists warn that dull colors and delays to the season could become increasingly common. Dr. Alexandra Kosiba, a forest ecophysiologist and extension assistant professor at the University of Vermont, studies how trees in New England are adapting to a changing climate…