Coastal Forest Loss Speeds Up: Albemarle Peninsula trees retreat 21%; ghost forests spread faster

North Carolina's coastal forests have experienced a significant decline in cover over the last 36 years, with a speed-up after 2010 due to rising sea levels and increased salinity. The research found that once green areas are now transforming into marshes, shrubs, or 'ghost forests'. Extreme weather events are exacerbating the threat of saltwater intrusion.