We're here in Washington DC during the National Cherry Blossom Festival
annually the festival attracts about 1.5 million people
its estimated from the visitors who attend the National Cherry Blossom
Festival
that they put in about 150 million dollars worth of economic impact
this area.
This setting is extraordinarily special.
For over a century Washington DC's flowering cherry trees and heralded the beginning
of spring and served as
an enduring symbol of International Friendship. This is a time of year when we
have people
coming focused on a natural resource. These trees are
greatly valued because there are wonderful symbol of friendship between nations.
The original trees were a gift from Japan in 1912.
Now, cherry tree dates vary from year to year
but the long-term trend shows earlier and earlier blooming.
Here in Washington DC weather station measurements since 1946
show a statistically significant temperature increase
a 1.6 degrees Celsius per century -
double the global rate. In flowering trees
heat breaks winter dormancy so
earlier cherry blooming is consistent with heating caused by climate change
Man plans and Mother Nature laughs you know we we can do our best to the
plan the festival
around the median peak bloom date, we can just base our estimates
of history and science.
Phonology is the timing of life events
in plants and animals. A great example
is right here the blooming of cherry blossoms
along the tidal basin in national capital parks Washington DC.
Phonology
is a potential indicator of climate change.
Published research
by the Smithsonian Institution shows a statistically significant
advance of spring blooming of cherry trees
in Washington DC by seven days
from 1978 to 1999. The potential vulnerability
of climate change is that it could create
a mismatch in phonology that is
a mismatch between when flowers bloom
and when bees and butterflies other pollinators mature
and are ready to pollinate.
Published scientific research shows that if we don't reduce our emissions
from cars power plants and deforestation
additional warming could advance spring blooming
by another week to month by the end of the 21st century
With the more than 25 million visitors that we receive on the National Mall
each year, the challenges are certainly great
in regards to climate change but the opportunities are great too.
It's our hope as visitors come and enjoy
this wonderful area and specifically these trees that they will have a sense
of stewardship and want to help the
National Park Service protect our treasures. When visitors choose to bike
or to walk or to use our recycling containers
they make a real difference in helping to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
When people leave this area they can carry that message with them too so we
can have a wonderful ripple effect
of instilling a sense of concern for the environment and stewardship.
This festival is deeply rooted
and mission in the Park Service we have culture and history on display before
our eyes. These are relics, these are cultural icons
and we have to do our best, as visitors as Rangers, as Americans, as
International guests
to make sure that we take care of our resources
so that future generations can experience the same
events as have an opportunity to enjoy today.