A recent study confirms forest elephants as one of the world's slowest reproducing mammals, with females taking up to 23 years to breed and giving birth only once every five to six years. This low birth rate means that forest elephant populations will take nearly a century to recover from poaching since 2002.
Researchers found that logging roads and landing areas lead to dense soil with slower water infiltration, causing erosion and affecting forest regeneration. This study highlights the need for treatment of impacted areas to prevent long-term effects on forest health.
A new study on the King Fire in California finds that even large, intense fires like this one do not exterminate spotted owls. In fact, owl populations may be resilient to megafires, contrary to previous studies, which suggests a reevaluation of forest thinning and prescribed burns as conservation strategies.
A study of 100 species found that over 90% were affected by the forest edge effect, with the majority declining in abundance. The negative impact extended far into the forest interior, making conservation efforts crucial to protect biodiversity.
Researchers developed a new statistical model that accurately predicts tree growth from the moment they're planted to when they reach crown closure. This allows forest managers to better identify which trees will survive and make informed decisions about forest management, increasing efficiency and effectiveness.
A recent study published by the University of Montana forest ecology professor Andrew Larson estimated that burned white fir forests in Yosemite alone could produce an average crop of over 1 million morels per year. The research provides concrete data on morel abundance, supporting park rules allowing personal use picking.
A new study published in Fire Ecology chronicles the history of forest fires in Oklahoma and Tennessee to determine their importance in maintaining forest health. Researchers found that forest fires are vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems, with some areas experiencing higher fire frequency than others.
Researchers obtained detailed measurements of carbon exchange in a temperate deciduous forest, revealing that trees exhale less CO2 during the day than previously thought. The study confirmed that forest photosynthesis doesn't decline over the course of summer, contrary to conventional wisdom used in climate models.
Scientists found that neutralizing acidic forest soils with calcium boosted tree growth, but also caused a significant increase in nitrogen export to nearby streams. This unexpected result sheds new light on watershed dynamics and highlights the complexity of mitigating acid rain.
A recent botanical survey in Angola's Kumbira forest revealed impressive numbers of vascular plants, including new records for the country and potential new species. The study highlights the importance of preserving the region's biodiversity due to human activities such as logging, agriculture, and invasive species.
Jerry Franklin, a professor at the University of Washington, has been named 2016's Eminent Ecologist by the Ecological Society of America. He is credited with pioneering research on old-growth forests and challenging clear-cutting practices to promote healthy forest ecosystems. His work has had a significant impact on forestry and fore...
Family forest owners prioritize natural values over financial gain, controlling 286 million acres of US forestland. Limited written forest management plans and professional forestry advice are prevalent among owners.
Research finds water yields from unmanaged forested watersheds in the southern Appalachian Mountains declining due to climate change and gradual shifts in forest structure. The study's findings have implications for managing forest composition to ensure water supply under future climate change.
A new study by the 2ndFOR Network found that natural processes in Latin American tropical forests can provide a solution to excess carbon dioxide threatening the planet. Regrowth forests increase above-ground carbon storage over time, depending on climate and landscape features.
The Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest has been a hub for long-term ecological research, revealing the impact of acid rain, clear-cutting, and climate change on forest ecosystems. The research has informed policy measures and inspired collaborations among federal agencies and academic scientists.
Researchers will identify and overcome barriers to using biomass from fuels-reduction and forest-restoration treatments. The goal is to sustainably use forest-based feedstocks to offset fossil fuels, improving environmental sustainability and human health while minimizing costs.
A study by the University of Connecticut team reveals that natural forest regrowth can store significant amounts of carbon, doubling in young second-growth forests and increasing by 120% in intermediate age forests. This approach offers a low-cost alternative to tree planting for reaching carbon mitigation targets.
A new study highlights the urgent need for the US to step up forest pest prevention measures, as imported pests cause over $2 billion in damages annually. Strengthening prevention efforts could alleviate economic burdens on homeowners and municipalities while safeguarding US trees.
A University of Vermont-led study finds that insect outbreaks, such as mountain pine beetle and western spruce budworm infestations, significantly reduce wildfire severity. This contrasts with popular attitudes linking the two, and provides new insights for forest management and policy applications.
The University of Leicester is launching a satellite project to monitor Kenya's forests in near real-time, helping forest land owners and national agencies protect biodiversity and reduce climate change. The project aims to support participatory forest management strategies and enable Kenya to manage its forests more sustainably.
A warmer climate could lead to higher growth and productivity on US national forests and grasslands, but at the cost of reduced freshwater yields. The study projects a 4-7% decrease in water yield by 2100, with the most severe declines in the Northwest, West North Central, and Southwest regions.
University of Missouri researchers analyzed historical forest surveys from the 1800s to gain insights into how natural disturbances and human actions shape forest conditions. They found that historical forests had more total biomass, likely sequestering more carbon than current forests.
A CU study found that large fires in the West followed by drought conditions are affecting high-elevation forests, leading to lower tree densities and increased patchiness. The research team measured tree species, numbers, sizes, and ages of post-fire seedlings in nearly 200 forest plots.
A recent UCR study found that biomass burning of polluted forest fuels exacerbates poor air quality and related health concerns in heavily polluted areas. The research showed that emissions from polluted fuels released more nitrogen oxides and small fine particles, posing respiratory health risks.
Research uncovers Amazon forest seasonality, revealing a dynamic pattern of leaf growth and death that explains variations in photosynthesis. The findings improve climate models and provide insights into the forest's ability to adapt to dry periods.
The USDA Forest Service's new interactive guide, Southern Forest Products - An Economic Engine, tells the story of forest products in the South over the last decades. Using FIA data loaded onto the Esri ArcGIS Online platform, the guide provides a constantly updated guide to southern timber product outputs and mills that process them.
Scientists create a computer simulation that grows realistic forests down to individual trees to predict how climate-related changes will affect fire rates, plant growth, and forest recovery in Quebec hardwood forests. The 'LES' model can help identify necessary species for reestablishing forests after wildfires and other disturbances.
The study reveals that forest clearing substantially affects local climate by altering average temperature and maximum summer temperatures. Evapotranspiration plays a key role in these impacts, with arid areas experiencing the most pronounced effects.
Two studies reveal how human-made forest changes affect the carbon cycle and air temperature. Replacing broadleaved forests with conifers increases evapotranspiration and albedo, contributing to warming. Forest clearing causes an increase in average and maximum surface temperatures, except at northern latitudes.
The world lost more than twice as much interior forest area than it gained between 2000 and 2012, with a net loss of 3.76 million square kilometers. This resulted in a fragmentation of remaining forests, increasing ecological risks.
Scientists create artificial ice storm to study its effects on northern hardwood forests, including tree growth, pest and pathogen impacts, and nutrient cycling. The research aims to improve understanding of climate change's role in shaping forest ecosystems.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found an association between obesity and the formation of blood clots in children and adolescents. Obesity was a statistically significant predictor of blood clot formation in juveniles, contributing to increased incidence of pediatric venous thromboembolism.
A new study shows that trees globally compete in some of the same ways, making simpler models of forest response to climate change possible. Trees with denser tissues have more impact on their neighbors.
A study by the USDA Forest Service's Northern Research Station found that institutions influence the demographic composition of scientists. The research reveals initiatives have narrowed the gender gap over the past 30 years, with women comprising 26% of scientists in R&D.
A study by the USDA Forest Service found that landscapes with 50-60% forest land use had statistically the same sink strength as those with 90-100% forest. This suggests that land use change is a substantial component of the forest carbon sink in the Eastern United States, and new approaches like establishing new forests may help seque...
The US forest products market share has declined from 28% in 1999 to 17% in 2013, mainly due to decreases in construction and paper manufacturing. However, a return to long-term housing market averages could bring the demand for wood as a construction material back up.
A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland developed methods to obtain indicators for tree size inequality using lidar technology. The researchers created maps of several study areas in Finland and Spain, identifying various structural properties of forests and evaluating different types of forest management regimes. These f...
A new project aims to incorporate ecological processes into Earth system models to predict the effectiveness of land management practices in mitigating climate change. The project, led by Quinn Thomas, will use field data and a state-of-the-art model to better understand key ecological processes and their impact on climate.
The US Forest Service found that forest carbon sequestration may decline overall over the next 25 years, with some regions experiencing a gradual decline and others a rapid decline due to disturbances like fire and insect epidemics.
A new study by Indiana University law professor Robert L. Fischman and Vanderbilt University's J.B. Ruhl finds that natural resource agencies often apply adaptive management in ways that don't promote learning, leading to a gap between theory and practice. The study cites examples of court decisions where judges overturned resource man...
Researchers found that 3% of protected forests and 2.5% of intact forests were lost globally between 2000-2012. High rates of agricultural land expansion and high GDP are linked to forest loss, contradicting previous findings.
A EU-funded project led by the University of Huddersfield is empowering community-managed forest areas in Ethiopia, improving local livelihoods while protecting biodiversity. The project's Participatory Forest Management approach has enabled over 55 village communities to manage large forest areas.
A new US Forest Service-led study reveals that habitat diversity is key to protecting coastal cutthroat trout from the effects of forest harvest and climate change. The study found that trout in different streams respond differently to these disturbances based on their habitat features.
A new study found that deforestation in Borneo's forests leads to a decline in frog species richness, with only 20% of primary forest species remaining in young oil palm plantations. The study highlights the need for rigorously enforcing riparian buffer zones to mitigate the impact of industrial monocultures on amphibian populations.
The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) has successfully transitioned to Phase B, paving the way for the deployment of a laser-based instrument on the International Space Station. This mission aims to provide high-resolution measurements of Earth's forest vertical structure, enabling scientists to better understand the globa...
The world has lost 129 million hectares of forest area since 1990, with tropical forests taking the hardest hit. However, there have been positive signs, including a halving of net forest loss from 7.3 to 3.3 million hectares between 2010 and 2015.
Researchers mapped social vulnerability at the district level, identifying three clusters of most vulnerable districts containing over 1 million people. The study highlights the importance of addressing water quality, food insecurity, and access to medical care to prevent Ebola infections and deaths.
The world's grassy biomes are under threat from conversion to agriculture and tree planting, which can lead to ecosystem degradation. Protecting these areas is crucial for preserving biodiversity and carbon storage capabilities.
A species of ant, the northern hairy wood ant (Formica lugubris), is thriving in newly formed coniferous forests in the North York Moors National Park. The ant's population has expanded into these plantations, suggesting they provide a suitable habitat for this forest specialist species.
Researchers aim to identify morally exceptional individuals through competitions, conferences, and research projects to foster moral attributes. The project's goal is to understand the psychological, cultural, and spiritual factors that contribute to moral excellence.
Climate change and rising temperatures are giving rise to 'hotter' droughts, causing abnormally high levels of forest mortality. Temperate forests may convert to new ecological states, leading to widespread ecosystem service losses.
Researchers at the Marcell Experimental Forest in Minnesota are conducting unprecedented whole-ecosystem manipulation to study peatlands' response to increased temperature and elevated carbon dioxide. The goal is to understand how peatlands react to various warming conditions and their impact on the global carbon cycle.
A new policy analysis warns that current regulations are stifling the use of genetically engineered trees to combat catastrophic forest threats. The authors argue for a shift in regulatory approaches that focus on product rather than process, considering need, urgency, and genetic similarity.
A special issue of Science explores the impact of human-induced environmental changes on forests worldwide. The reviews highlight pressing issues such as forest fires, drought, and extinction, emphasizing the need for sustainable management practices, genetic engineering, and collaborative research.
The USDA Forest Service's online Waterviz tool will be strengthened by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, enabling it to reach more students and educators. The tool, which combines environmental sensors, music, and digital art, aims to increase understanding of science and data literacy.
Forest fires in Siberia have grown over three times to 146 fires covering 63,600 hectares, with blazes reported in the Buryatia Republic and Zabaikalye Territory. A total of 10,700 hectares are registered in nature reserves, with firefighting efforts employing 3,500 people and 11 aircraft.
A new fleshbelly frog species, N. madreselva, has been discovered in the Peruvian cloud forest, characterized by its striking coloration and limited distribution. The species is threatened by deforestation, diseases, and agricultural activities, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to protect amphibian biodiversity.
The collaboration uses G-LiHT to measure signs and symptoms of forest health, detecting changes in leaf pigments and spotting infested trees with thermal infrared cameras. This technology helps track emerald ash borer and southern pine beetle populations, informing post-infestation control measures.
Researchers studied the aftermath of Yosemite's Rim fire, which burned 400 square miles in 2013, to understand its impact on forest recovery. They found that uncharacteristically high severity and altered dynamics, with potential for vegetation switching to shrubs if not restored through controlled burns.
Researchers found that warmer summer temperatures in Interior Alaska led to a decline in white spruce tree growth, while Western Alaska saw increased growth rates. The study, which analyzed over 540 tree cores, suggests the boreal forest is shifting towards higher elevations and the western part of the state.