By Philip James As the days shorten and temperatures drop in the northern hemisphere, leaves begin to turn. We can enjoy glorious autumnal colors while the leaves are still on the trees and, later, kicking through a red, brown and gold carpet when out walking. When temperatures rise again in spring, the growing season for […]
By Gregory Moore With massive fronds creating a luxuriously green canopy in the understory of Australian forests, tree ferns are a familiar sight on many long drives or bushwalks. But how much do you really know about them? First of all, tree ferns are ferns, but they are not really trees. To be a tree, […]
By Tara Lohan Warming temperatures on land and in the water are already forcing many species to seek out more hospitable environments. Atlantic mackerel are swimming farther north; mountain-dwelling pikas are moving upslope; some migratory birds are altering the timing of their flights. Numerous studies have tracked these shifting ranges, looked at the importance of […]
By Charli Shield Not too long ago, many people weren’t sure if trees had a place in cities. People, cars, houses and buildings made up urban areas — there wasn’t much room for nature. Trees now have a fundamental place in many big cities around the world, says Sonja Dümpelmann, landscape historian at the University […]
Some of the largest wildfires on record have swept across the West in recent years. Restoring these areas and managing forests to prevent more dangerous fires is complicated, especially as the climate warms. “A lot of our management has been designed up until now with the expectation of a stable climate. And that expectation is […]
By Agustín del Castillo For 20 years, the Colima fir tree (Abies colimensis) has been at the heart of many disputes to conserve the temperate forests of southern Jalisco, a state in central Mexico. Today, the future of this tree rests upon whether the area’s avocado crops will advance further and whether neighboring communities will […]
On hot summer days, trees help cool city neighborhoods. And during extreme storms, they help absorb stormwater and reduce flooding. But low-income neighborhoods often have fewer trees than other areas, and reversing this inequity requires more than saplings and shovels. Haley Miller of the Oregon-based nonprofit Friends of Trees says it takes community outreach and […]
By Fino Menezes Imagine an information superhighway that speeds up interactions between a large, diverse population of individuals, allowing individuals who may be widely separated to communicate and help each other out. When you walk in the woods, this is all happening beneath your feet. No, we’re not talking about the internet, we’re talking about […]
By Kimberly White Ethiopia has set out to plant 5 billion tree seedlings this year. The planting is part of the country’s larger reforestation initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Launched in 2019, the Green Legacy initiative aims to combat environmental degradation, build resilience, and transition into a green society. The nation has lost […]