Many dominant tree species in aspen-birch forests are expected to decline across northern Wisconsin and western Upper Michigan by the end of the century (balsam poplar, paper birch, and quaking aspen).

These are northern species near their southern range limits in northern Wisconsin. Multiple forest impact models tend to agree that these species are more likely to decline in suitable habitat and biomass across a range of climate scenarios by the end of the century. Model results are mixed for balsam poplar and bigtooth aspen, but models agree that these species are not projected to increase substantially under future climate scenarios. Forests dominated by paper birch may be at greater risk than aspen-dominated forests, because paper birch forests are currently much less common across the landscape and face greater challenges to regeneration.