Climate change impacts the blooming of cherry blossoms, casting a shadow on traditions and tourism.
Raju Khandu, a resident of Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh, is a worried man. The tourism professional바카라™s business thrives on the cherry blossom festivals that dot the calendar across Northeast India. Khandu is beginning to feel the tremors of uncertainty. The blossoms are no longer blooming on schedule.
The signs are hard to ignore. Experts warn that the concern is real. The blooming season of cherry blossoms has shifted globally, including in India. This is driven primarily by global warming and broader disruptions caused by climate change.
바카라śClimate change impacts cherry blossoms primarily through altered blooming times, disrupted ecosystems and increased risks to tree health. Global warming cause cherry blossoms to bloom earlier than historical norms,바카라ť explained Krishnendu Acharya, professor of botany at Calcutta University.
In Japan, cherry blossoms are a cultural emblem. Records show that peak bloom dates for Prunus jamasakura (the Japanese mountain cherry) in Kyoto have shifted by about 11 days over the last 175 years. Warmer springs are pushing bloom dates from mid-April to late March. Cherry trees require a precise sequence 바카라” cold spells for dormancy, followed by warmth for budding. Warmer winters, now the new normal, delay or disrupt this process, leading to irregular or failed blooms. Just a 1°C rise in spring temperature can advance blooming by five to seven days.
The trouble doesn바카라™t end there. Extreme weather events 바카라” sudden storms, unseasonal rain, or late frosts 바카라” can damage buds and flowers. Heavy rainfall during peak bloom shortens the flowering window, hurting tourism-dependent economies. Washington, D.C., for instance, draws millions annually for its cherry blossom season.
In some regions, cherry trees are struggling to survive altogether. In Japan, projections suggest that by 2100, southern regions may no longer be viable for cultivating Somei-Yoshino cherries, forcing growers to move northward.
India is now grappling with similar changes. 바카라śThe blooming in Arunachal Pradesh has been pushed back by around two weeks on average, mainly due to prolonged summer,바카라ť said Abhay Das, a researcher studying cherry blossom patterns. 바카라śBlooming in other northeastern states has also shown erratic behaviour,바카라ť he added.
In Meghalaya, the uncertainty is evident. 바카라śBlooming typically happens in November 바카라” in the first week, sometimes later. Though climate change is a major cause, we still don바카라™t have any credible long-term study to establish the trend scientifically,바카라ť observed Harish Chandra Choudhury, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Meghalaya. Patricia Mukhim, a senior environmental journalist based in the state, echoed the concern.
The Prunus cerasoides 바카라” locally known as the wild Himalayan cherry or padam 바카라” has become particularly vulnerable. In 2017, a delayed bloom in Shillong, caused by insufficient chilling periods, disrupted the popular Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival, a marquee event in the region바카라™s cultural calendar.
바카라śCherry blossom flowering is now an indicator of climate change in Northeast India,바카라ť felt environmental expert Dinabandhu Sahoo.
As the planet warms and weather patterns grow erratic, the once-reliable rhythm of the cherry blossom season seems to be falling out of sync. This has serious implications for biodiversity, local livelihoods and cultural traditions alike.