In Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin, it’s easy to see what makes the forests of the Upper Midwest so special. …But climate change is bringing more intense storms – as well as warmer winters. And that affects a forest in several ways, says Stephen Handler, a climate science researcher with the U.S. Forest Service. “You’re extending your growing seasons on one end, you’re not getting that durable frost that freezes the ground that knocks back forest pests and diseases,” he says. …Before the landowners leave, Handler has some important words of caution. He points out that computer models don’t account for pests like the emerald ash borer. So even though white ash are projected to do well in the climate models, they’re not necessarily a safe bet.