Articles tagged with Forest Resources
A new study emphasizes the importance of involving local communities in global forest restoration efforts, which could provide benefits to millions of people living on lands suitable for forest restoration. The research highlights opportunities for tropical countries to remove atmospheric carbon, promote biodiversity conservation, and ...
A recent study published in Nature Sustainability found that incentives for afforestation in Chile led to an increase in forest plantations but a decrease in the extent of native forests. This research highlights the need for careful policy design and application to protect natural ecosystems.
A new study finds that investments in tree plantations and palm oil production consistently lead to higher rates of tropical deforestation. Governments must provide transparent information on land deals to protect forests effectively.
A $260,000 award from the US Forest Service supports a two-year project led by NAU professor Han-Sup Han to develop wood products market, invest in rural economies, and increase forest restoration treatments. The goal is to create a center of expertise that can support sustainable forest land management and cluster development.
A new study has found that deforestation is changing the way howler monkeys communicate in their natural habitats. The research, led by Laura Bolt at the University of Waterloo, reveals that howling duration and intensity vary depending on proximity to forest edges impacted by human activity.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to manage its forested research properties under the highest standards for forest management. Through this partnership, UT will sell carbon credits to benefit society and fight climate change, while also promoting sustainable forestry practic...
Researchers analyzed stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in fur samples from 29 species of mammals to measure the impact of agriculture on their diet. The study found that herbivores and omnivores inhabiting forest fragments consumed agricultural resources, while carnivores close to croplands preyed on prey that feed on these resources.
Research using stable isotopes shows that some mammals thrive on agricultural products in modified landscapes, while others rely on forest resources. Habitat loss from agriculture may pose conservation challenges, highlighting the need for sustainable land-use practices.
A recent study by Clark University researchers reveals that tropical forests are under threat from massive infrastructure projects and resource extraction. The study highlights the urgent need for policy-making that protects forests and communities from corruption and human rights abuses.
A study finds that resource extraction and infrastructure development lead to significant forest loss and marginalize indigenous communities. The authors suggest novel approaches balancing conservation and agroindustry goals through rigorous land use zoning and community-led resource management.
Researchers found that Douglas-fir density was high after 20 years in severely burned areas, unaffected by management practices. Forest managers should tailor post-fire management to specific objectives and landscape context to maximize effectiveness.
A new study found widespread logging permit fraud in the Brazilian Amazon, which is undercutting conservation efforts and threatening high-value timber species like ipe. The researchers discovered a deliberate overestimation bias of these species, indicating corruption or simple misidentification.
A study finds no correlation between atmospheric CO2 levels and forest expansion/decline, with nations' forest resources mirroring the UN Human Development Index. Forest growth is attributed to factors such as urbanization, market-oriented agriculture, and improved agricultural technologies.
Researchers used stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis to show that some individuals subsisted primarily on forest resources, while others relied on agriculture through trade. The study's findings are significant for the Wanniyalaeto people's battles to remain on their traditional hunting grounds.
The study found that between 2009 and 2014, tree cover in urban areas declined by 0.7 percent, resulting in the loss of 36 million trees. This decline has significant impacts on air quality, energy costs, noise reduction, and human health. The annual benefits derived from US urban forests are estimated at $18 billion.
A new study predicts that half of Alberta's upland boreal forest will disappear by 2100, replaced by young deciduous forests and grasslands. The research, conducted by University of Alberta biologists, took into account wildfire disturbance and climate change over a 100-year period.
Research found that forest owners at greater risk of causing deforestation are more likely to participate in conservation programs when controlled harvesting is allowed. Sustainable timber harvesting was a key factor in their willingness to accept contracts, suggesting that such practices can enhance ecological impacts.
The USDA has awarded grants to promote sustainable forest and rangeland management through innovative projects addressing emerging issues in the Western Gulf region and beyond. These projects aim to empower landowners and managers with science-based decision-making tools and resources to achieve conservation and economic goals.
A new global map offers detailed insights into certified forest areas, enabling policymakers and users to make informed decisions on sustainable resource use. The map combines country-level statistics with remote sensing products and crowdsourcing, providing a basis for a global pathway towards sustainability.
Researchers developed a method to identify imported wood using its chemical fingerprint, distinguishing between two separate populations of Douglas-fir trees with high accuracy. The technique has the potential to help law enforcement tackle illegal logging by accurately tracing the origin of wood samples.
The USDA is providing funding to help private forestland owners and ranchers make informed decisions about their natural resources. NIFA investments will enhance the sustainability of forest and rangeland resources through education programs, supporting well-managed forests and rural economic development.
A UC Berkeley study has found significant flaws in research used to challenge the US Forest Service's plan to restore Sierra Nevada forests. The study, published in Ecological Applications, uses historic field data to estimate forest density and finds two major methodological flaws.
The Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative (ELTI) has received a $4.9 million grant from Arcadia to continue its work empowering leaders in tropical landscapes through field-based training, leadership support, and innovative online instruction. The program has reached over 5,000 individuals since 2006.
The study highlights the importance of civil society organizations in Laos' REDD+ and FLEGT programs, emphasizing their potential to bring valuable local insight and enhance fairness and transparency. However, limitations pose a challenge, including a restricted political system that hinders independent civic society.
A recent study found that 90% of village communities in tropical regions have reported declining availability of forest resources, including timber and firewood. The researchers attribute this decline to excessive consumption and clearance by large companies and local populations.
A new study finds China's Grain-for-Green Program, the world's largest reforestation effort, has planted mostly monoculture forests with limited biodiversity benefits. Researchers recommend restoring native or mixed forests to protect wildlife and mitigate climate change.
Researchers found that shell middens and fire used by coastal First Nations people improved forest health through increased nutrients and soil drainage. This finding challenges the common perception of human impact on the environment.
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.
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.
China's sweeping program to restore forests has seen significant gains in tree cover, with nearly 61,000 square miles of land recovering, while 14,400 square miles experienced loss. The recovery is encouraging, but researchers emphasize the need for further research on the broader impacts of forest degradation and recovery worldwide.
New research reveals that sustainable forestry policies in the Congo Basin may inadvertently cause increased deforestation and timber production. The studies found that selective logging, often done under compliant policies, leads to indirect deforestation by spreading activities over larger areas. Human settlements also grow near lega...
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.
Protected areas can significantly vary in their effectiveness in reducing deforestation, with some experiencing a 3.4% decrease in forest cover while others see a 5.3% increase. The study used statistical tools from econometrics to identify biases in estimates and found that individual park-level estimates ranged from -3.4% to +5.3%.
Researchers found that young tropical forests experienced significant declines in manakin survival during dry weather associated with El Niño events. In contrast, mature forests showed stable survival rates regardless of climatic shifts, suggesting a constant abundance of fruit resources.
A study in California's Sierra Nevada region found a nine-fold increase in standing dead trees and nearly three times more logs on the ground, but smaller and more decayed pieces. This shift poses a challenge for forest managers, who must balance habitat value with fire hazard reduction.
The new version of Argonne's WATER tool predicts water consumption associated with use of cellulosic feedstocks. The tool provides analysis down to the county level for the first time, supporting biofuel industry development and planning.
A new report by Rights and Resources Initiative sheds light on Asia Pulp and Paper's (APP) past failures to respect community land rights in China. The study found that APP's historic land acquisitions posed risks to the company's investments and operations, with significant challenges remaining to be addressed.
A new study published in Global Change Biology found that habitat fragmentation significantly alters the cycling of carbon and nutrients in woodland ecosystems. The researchers discovered that drier conditions at the edges of forest patches slow down the decay of dead wood, leading to a reduction in wood decomposition rates.
Community forests hold 37.7 billion tonnes of carbon, a critical tool to reduce emissions and fight climate change. Strengthening community rights can prevent deforestation and mitigate climate change by up to 12 billion tonnes of avoided carbon dioxide emissions.
The New York Botanical Garden is launching a two-phase project to inform future conservation efforts in Myanmar. The first phase will establish collaborations with national institutions, provide training for young botanists, and collect preliminary data on the country's flora.
Researchers from the University of Missouri found that juvenile songbirds are vulnerable to environmental hazards, especially during the first three weeks after leaving their parents' nests. The study emphasizes the importance of providing suitable habitats for young birds to survive on their own.
The New York Botanical Garden is launching a program to conserve the Brazilian Amazon forest, part of the world's largest intact forest. The four initiatives will improve forestry practices, train workers to identify tree species, develop sustainable management protocols, and contribute baseline knowledge.
A University of Maryland-led team created the first high-resolution global map of forest extent, loss, and gain. The study documents a global loss of 2.3 million square kilometers and a gain of 800,000 square kilometers between 2000 and 2012.
A recent study assesses the economic viability of salvaging standing timber killed by mountain pine beetles in western US states. While some regions like Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, and South Dakota can generate positive net revenues from salvage, others like Colorado and Wyoming face losses due to saturated markets.
Researchers in Borneo have found orangutans regularly coming down from trees to forage or travel, comparable to ground-dwelling macaques. The reason for this behavior remains a mystery, but habitat loss and transformation may be driving the adaptation.
A recent report by USDA Forest Service reveals a doubling of houses in dispersed rural settings and development on nonfederal resource lands over the past 30 years. The analysis showed that most new development was close to existing areas, with increases in housing similar across eastern and western Washington.
A new analysis by the USDA Forest Service emphasizes managing forests as consumers of water, reducing risk of water stress. This shift in thinking helps maintain resilience and health in a changing climate.
Organic semiconductor technology has the potential to create flexible devices like video screens that bend like paper. A $400,000 NSF CAREER Award will support research on the physical structure and electronic properties of single crystals.
Scientists at Wake Forest University have developed a flicker-free and shatterproof lighting solution using field-induced polymer electroluminescent (FIPEL) technology. The new lights produce soft white light without the yellowish tint of fluorescents or bluish tinge of LEDs.
The Lao government announces a dramatic shift in its land policy, prioritizing local land management and granting significant rights to rural households. This move aims to address land disputes and alleviate poverty, following international best practices from countries like China and Nepal.
A team of scientists created a methodology that considers timber vulnerability, harvesting value, and fire behavior to estimate potential net losses from timber production and fire survival probability. This approach helps fire managers and planners evaluate the economic impacts of wildfires on timber resources.
The USDA Forest Service's Eastern Forest and Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Centers have unveiled a new satellite-based monitoring and assessment tool called ForWarn. This web-based tool recognizes and tracks potential forest disturbances caused by various natural or human-caused events, providing near-real-time views...
A recent study published in Ecological Applications found that wildfires in northwestern California have not become more severe, despite increasing in size. The study suggests that less intense fires can be used to achieve ecological and management goals, offering a new approach to wildfire management.
The US Forest Service's Northern Research Station is part of an international team sequencing 1,000 fungal genomes as part of the DOE's Community Sequencing Program. This project aims to create an encyclopedia of all fungi, which will help researchers understand their roles in ecosystems and develop new products.
A new grant-funded project from the University of Copenhagen aims to investigate how Kenya's handling of natural resources contributes to instability in the country. The researchers will focus on the Mau Forest, a region affected by violent conflicts over resource access.
Indonesia is paying a high price for failing to give local communities enforceable rights to contested forests, causing significant economic losses and deforestation. The country continues as an outlier in the region, with less than 1% of its forestland legally recognized under local control.
African nations participated in a workshop to document the status of forest genetic resources, essential for conserving and sustainably managing forests. The project aims to cover over 3,000 species and gather comprehensive data on genetic diversity before it is lost forever.
A five-year study funded by DOD aims to assess the ability of longleaf pine ecosystems to absorb climate-changing carbon dioxide. Researchers will analyze data from Fort Polk, Fort Benning, and Camp Lejeune to develop biologically based models for managing these forests.
A new study by Syracuse University researchers reveals that the lack of FSC-certified sawmills and wood in New York state is causing a bottleneck for green construction. As a result, builders are forced to purchase FSC-certified wood outside of the state at a premium price.
A new chameleon species has been discovered in Tanzania's Magombera Forest, with the specimen named Kinyongia magomberae. The discovery highlights the importance of protecting this area, which is home to endangered red colobus monkeys and under threat from habitat loss.