Impact of Climate Change on DC’s Cherry Blossoms: A Sad Reality

Climate change is taking a toll on Washington’s iconic cherry blossoms, with many trees facing removal due to the effects of rising sea levels and warming temperatures. The National Park Service is being forced to cut down over 150 flowering cherry trees that have graced the waterfront for more than a century, as deteriorating seawalls surrounding the Tidal Basin struggle to withstand the impacts of climate change. Rising sea levels, which have increased by more than a foot in the D.C. area over the last century, have caused settlement in the seawalls and poor drainage, leading to the trees’ demise. These cherry trees, gifted by Japan in 1912 as a symbol of friendship, are now at risk of disappearing due to environmental changes. The removal of these trees, including the famous ‘Stumpy,’ marks a heartbreaking end to an era of natural beauty in the nation’s capital.