The International Forest List Weekly News Digest - March 02, 2024
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Mar 1, 2024, 6:26:02 PM3/1/24
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“My favourite places on earth are the wild waterways where the forest opens its arms and a silver curve of river folds the traveller into its embrace.”
- Rory MacLean
Join Us for the UNECE International Day of Forests Event on 21 March
Dear Forest Community, We are thrilled to invite you to join us in celebrating the International Day of Forests on 21 March 2024. This special occasion will feature a two-part event hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe…
https://unece.org/info/events/event/386484
Latitudinal patterns in stabilizing density dependence of forest communities
Numerous studies have shown reduced performance in plants that are surrounded by neighbours of the same species, a phenomenon known as conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD). A long-held ecological hypothesis posits that CNDD is more…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07118-4
Earthquakes impact forest resilience for decades post-event, research suggests
Earthquake effects are often thought of in terms of the human impact, be that fatalities or destruction to homes and infrastructure. However, the environmental toll can also be damaging, and new research, published in Nature Geoscience…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-earthquakes-impact-forest-resilience-decades.html
Hai-quan Huang's research team at Southwest Forestry University has revealed the cellular and molecular basis of the spur development in Impatiens uliginosa
As an important reproductive organ of angiosperms, flowers have clear purposefulness and adaptive significance in their various characteristics. As a typical floral evolutionary feature, the floral spur is a tubular structure extending from the petal, which has…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1035907
Wildfire Danger in Arkansas | What is the science behind the risk?
In February, you may not have expected to hear us talk about temperatures in the 80s! You also might be caught off guard by the fact that our wildfire danger is elevated across the state. Yes, the warm temperatures and low humidity might feel amazing, but that…
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/weather/wildfire-arkansas-science-behind-risk-fire-drought-dry-forestry/527-85529ad2-5f5f-4401-bdca-2617e0a699f5
Tree canopies help forests recover
Extreme events wipe out entire forests, dramatically eliminating complex ecosystems as well as local communities. Researchers have become quite familiar with such attention-grabbing events throughout the years. They know less, however, about the more…
https://agupdate.com/agriview/news/technology/tree-canopies-help-forests-recover/article_e8eab594-c9c3-11ee-a8fc-03a917e935bf.html
The Limits of Math: Study Shows Forests Are More Complex Than Thought
Scientists have found that the growth patterns of trees in a forest differ significantly from the way branches expand on an individual tree. Nature is full of surprising repetitions. In trees, the large branches often look like entire trees, while smaller branches and twigs…
https://scitechdaily.com/the-limits-of-math-study-shows-forests-are-more-complex-than-thought/
Sprucing up high-elevation forests
After the intense wildfires of 2020, Forest Service managers and scientists teamed up with conservation groups, water utilities, and universities. Their mission: To fix the damage to watersheds in the aftermath of massive high-elevation blazes…
https://www.fs.usda.gov/features/sprucing-high-elevation-forests
Deciphering the dynamic regulatory networks of poplar leaf development: A comprehensive transcriptomic and miRNA analysis
Poplar trees are crucial for afforestation and urban greening, and their leaf development stages affect biomass accumulation. Despite the known physiological changes from young to senescent leaves, the transcriptional regulatory network in poplars is poorly…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1035905
The secret lives of roots: Tropical forest root systems are central to improving climate change predictions
International research co-authored by Joshua Fisher, associate professor in Chapman University's Schmid College of Science and Technology, suggests that studying root function in tropical forests could help vegetation models improve predictions of…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-secret-roots-tropical-forest-root.html
This tiny carnivore could be the key to tracking nearly a dozen declining Maine species
If you want to learn about the health of wild animals in the forests of Maine, pay attention to what's going on with the American marten. Research at the University of Maine led by Alessio Mortelliti, an associate professor in UMaine's department of wildlife, fisheries…
https://www.aol.com/tiny-carnivore-could-key-tracking-113200848.html
The sound of the ground - forests and climate change
Record-breaking temperatures and natural disasters make headlines. But the steady march of global warming remains an abstract idea for many people. Researchers are trying to change that with recordings from forest ecosystems…
https://www.dw.com/en/the-sound-of-the-ground-forests-and-climate-change/video-68349513
Irrecoverable Carbon In The Mountains: Embracing The Opportunity Of Agroforestry
Over 29% of global irrecoverable carbon, which once gone is not likely to recover in any reasonable timeframe according to scientific literature, is stored in mountains. This biomass, representing irreplaceable ecosystems, biodiversity, and globally significant…
https://www.eurasiareview.com/25022024-irrecoverable-carbon-in-the-mountains-embracing-the-opportunity-of-agroforestry/
Brown bears digging up artificial forests, study shows
Brown bears foraging for food in the Shiretoko Peninsula of Hokkaido, Japan, have been disrupting tree growth in artificial conifer forests, according to a new study published in Ecology. Researchers compared soil and tree samples from human-forested plots…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-brown-artificial-forests.html
NASA-funded study brings together researchers from across the world to unravel mysteries of tropical forests
Scientists from leading universities and research institutions worldwide convened in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, to initiate a knowledge-sharing initiative regarding a scoping process. This will guide a decade-long project on tropical forests funded by the…
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/nasa-funded-study-brings-together-researchers-from-across-the-world-to-unravel-mysteries-of-tropical-forests-94683
Revolutionizing Forestry: Sweden's Leap Towards Precision with Laser Scanning
Explore the innovative collaboration between the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden and Komatsu Forest, leading the way in precision forestry operations. Learn how laser scanning technology is revolutionizing the timber harvesting process and paving the…
https://bnnbreaking.com/world/sweden/revolutionizing-forestry-swedens-leap-towards-precision-with-laser-scanning
Timber company to support university forestry program
Stiga RM, one of Latvia’s leading timber companies, has announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) in support of science and education…
https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/01.03.2024-timber-company-to-support-university-forestry-program.a544995/
Revolutionizing Australia's Forestry: New Research Centres to Propel Industry into Low Emissions Future
Under the Albanese Government's Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) program, two new research centres have been selected to join forces with the University of Tasmania (UTAS) in transforming Australia's forestry industry into a more sustainable…
https://bnnbreaking.com/world/australia/revolutionizing-australias-forestry-new-research-centres-to-propel-industry-into-low-emissions-future
Save our forests: an ‘SOS’ against the invasive lantana camara
Ornamental attraction can be a disastrous one. The story of the invasive flowering plant Lantana Camara is one such. It is wreaking havoc in Karnataka’s forests and crops, calling for urgent steps to restrict its spread…
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Feb/24/save-our-forests-an-sos-against-the-invasive-lantana-camara
Our Breathing Earth: A Review of Soil Respiration Science
The ground beneath our feet is exhaling. Steadily and without pause, through a process called soil respiration, plant roots and microbes release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. The amount of CO2 that passes from the soil to the air is significant…
https://eos.org/research-spotlights/our-breathing-earth-a-review-of-soil-respiration-science
Shedding light on the intricacies of numerical simulations of soil behavior
A solid understanding of soil mechanics and behavior is one of the fundamental pillars of geotechnical engineering. The stability and resilience of many modern geotechnical structures, including building foundations, dams, bridges, and embankments, rely on…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1035732
Global warming found to increase the diversity of active soil bacteria
Warmer soils harbor a greater diversity of active microbes, according to a new study from researchers at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna. The study, published in Science Advances, represents a…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-global-diversity-soil-bacteria.html
Unlocking the Secrets of Soil Microbes to Improve Climate Predictions
Climate models are essential to predicting and addressing climate change, but can fail to adequately represent soil microbes, a critical player in ecosystem soil carbon sequestration that affects the global carbon cycle. A team of scientists led by the…
https://scitechdaily.com/unlocking-the-secrets-of-soil-microbes-to-improve-climate-predictions/
Study reveals accelerated soil priming under climate warming
A first-of-its-kind study led by researchers at the University of Oklahoma highlights a crucial biosphere feedback mechanism and its effects on releasing soil carbon into the atmosphere. Jizhong Zhou, the director of the Institute for Environmental Genomics…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1035968
A rapid and simple method for the extraction of biogenic silica (BSi) in phytolith-poor sediments and soils
Phytoliths can be used to reconstruct human-nature dynamics over the long term (from decennial to centennial and millennial time scales) and may capture activities that cannot be reconstructed through other proxies. Phytoliths consist of fossil biogenic silica (BSi)…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016124000888
India bets on green credits, but could they reward deforestation?
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased the country's Green Credit Programme at COP28 in Dubai, he billed it as a new tool in the fight against climate change that "goes beyond the commercial mindset associated with carbon credits"…
https://www.context.news/nature/india-bets-on-green-credits-but-could-they-reward-deforestation
UAE: Community drive to plant 50,000 mangrove seedlings by March 1
During the week ending March 1, a week-long campaign seeks to add 50,000 more mangrove trees in the UAE as part of the 44th Planting Week, which kicked off yesterday (Monday, February 26). Under the theme “Together, Let’s Plant the UAE”, the initiative…
https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/uae-community-drive-to-plant-50000-mangrove-seedlings-by-march-1-1.101305687
Restoring mangroves a nature-based fix for plight planet faces
Mangroves — shrub and tree species that live along shores, rivers and estuaries — are a cost-effective solution to tackling the climate crisis, according to Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the assistant secretary general of the United Nations Environment Programme…
https://mg.co.za/the-green-guardian/2024-02-26-restoring-mangroves-a-nature-based-fix-for-plight-planet-faces/
UK-PACT, FAO Launch Initiative to Shield Nigeria's Mangroves from Pollution, Deforestation
The United Kingdom Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK-PACT) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have embarked on a crucial venture to protect the mangrove ecosystems in Cross River State, Nigeria. This project…
https://bnnbreaking.com/world/africa/uk-pact-fao-launch-initiative-to-shield-nigerias-mangroves-from-pollution-deforestation
‘Guardians of the forest’: How art made from the ashes of Amazon Rainforest fires is helping Indigenous communities
Perched on a branch amidst the cover of darkness is a Xingu screech owl with piercing, fiery amber eyes. Created by British artist Sarah Ball, the artwork is titled “Megascops Stangiae,” referring to the scientific name of this species only found in the Indigenous…
https://edition.cnn.com/style/from-the-ashes-amazon-rainforest-fires-helping-indigenous-communities-c2e-spc-intl/index.html
Act to save Dartmoor rainforest from sheep, urge campaigners
There are acorns galore and tiny oaks sprouting from tussocky grass beside the gnarled ancient trees of Black-a-Tor Copse on the northern slopes of Dartmoor national park. But each tiny sapling grows no higher than a sheep’s chin and there it stays, its new shoots…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/01/save-dartmoor-rainforest-black-a-tor-copse-from-sheep-urge-campaigners
The secret lives of roots: Tropical forest root systems are central to improving climate change predictions
International research co-authored by Joshua Fisher, associate professor in Chapman University’s Schmid College of Science and Technology, suggests that studying root function in tropical forests could help vegetation models improve predictions of climate…
https://news.chapman.edu/2024/02/29/the-secret-lives-of-roots-tropical-forest-root-systems-are-central-to-improving-climate-change-predictions/
Joint superpixel and Transformer for high resolution remote sensing image classification
Deep neural networks combined with superpixel segmentation have proven to be superior to high-resolution remote sensing image (HRI) classification. Currently, most HRI classification methods that combine deep learning and superpixel segmentation use…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-55482-y
Using AI to enhance satellite imagery to monitor the planet
A new method to assess different satellite designs using a powerful AI technique to more cheaply monitor our planet from space has been published in the journal Remote Sensing Letters. Thanks to an international team led by Swinburne University of Technology and…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-ai-satellite-imagery-planet.html
Security-oriented steganographic payload allocation for multi-remote sensing images
Multi-image steganography, a technique for concealing information within multiple carrier mediums, finds remote sensing images to be particularly apt carriers due to their complex structures and abundant texture data. These characteristics bolster the resilience…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-55474-y
AI reveals secret roads endangering the world's rainforests
Satellite images analyzed by AI are emerging as a new tool in finding unmapped roads that bring environmental destruction to wilderness areas. James Cook University's Distinguished Professor Bill Laurance was co-author of a study analyzing the reliability…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-ai-reveals-secret-roads-endangering.html
A modified generative adversarial networks with Yolov5 for automated forest health diagnosis from aerial imagery and Tabu search algorithm
Our environment has been significantly impacted by climate change. According to previous research, insect catastrophes induced by global climate change killed many trees, inevitably contributing to forest fires. The condition of the forest is an essential…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-54399-w
The surprising US region that's home to the world's oldest forests
Picture a hot, tropical landscape near the equator full of shallow seas. Birds and invertebrates don't yet exist. Neither does the Atlantic Ocean. Instead, a mountain range the height of the Andes looms over fragile stretches of trees that resemble palms…
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240229-the-surprising-us-region-thats-home-to-the-worlds-oldest-forests
When Forests Come Down with a Bug: Forest Pests in the Greater DC Area
Forests of the National Capital Region (NCR) face persistent threats from a variety of pests and pathogens. As part of the eastern deciduous forest, our forests are rich in biodiversity. This includes native species and naturalized forest pests, while other newly introduced…
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/pests-and-pathogens.htm
Adapting our forests for climate change - why genetic diversity matters
Laura Guillardín and Niall Farrelly, Teagasc Forestry Development Department, write about the importance of genetic diversity in trees for adapting to the impacts of climate change, through conservation, restoration, and management strategies…
https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/forestry/adapting-our-forests-for-climate-change---why-genetic-diversity-matters.php
Cambodia’s environment ministry acts to curb forestry crimes, illegal encroachment
The Ministry of Environment has announced key measures to curb encroachment on community forests and protected areas, warning that a small minority of people are continuing to use using protected land for their personal gain…
https://asianews.network/cambodias-environment-ministry-acts-to-curb-forestry-crimes-illegal-encroachment/
The world’s business and finance sectors can do much more to reverse deforestation – here’s the data to prove it
Big corporations could drive a worldwide shift towards more sustainable supply chains that limit damage caused by deforestation. But progress is being slowed down by weak or non-existent commitments to ensure that supply chains for commodities such as soy…
https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-business-and-finance-sectors-can-do-much-more-to-reverse-deforestation-heres-the-data-to-prove-it-224392
How a common — and contentious — pesticide is impacting Canada’s forests
A professor at the University of Northern British Columbia has been tapped to study the ecological impacts of glyphosate-based pesticides on forests. Glyphosate pesticides are routinely used by logging companies across Canada to kill off leafy deciduous plants…
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/03/01/news/how-common-controversial-pesticide-impacting-canada-forests
Ontario Investing $60 Million in Forest Biomass Program
The Government of Ontario is investing an additional $60 million in the Forest Biomass Program. The program funds projects that harvest more wood from Crown forests, increase regional economic growth and find new uses for underutilized wood and mill…
https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1004242/ontario-investing-60-million-in-forest-biomass-program
Liberia: RICCE Participates in National Dialogue on Nationally Determined Contributions with Focus on Forest
The Rural Integrated Center for Community Empowerment (RICCE) Tuesday February 27, 2024 participated in a one-day National Dialogue on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with a focus on the forest target. The Nationally Determined…
https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-ricce-participates-in-national-dialogue-on-nationally-determined-contributions-with-focus-on-forest/
Scotland's top five 'beautiful' forests to explore named ahead of spring
Five "beautiful" Scottish forests have been named as among the best in the UK ahead of spring by a popular magazine. Sustainable living magazine Pebble rated forests across the UK, and named five in Scotland as some of the best outdoor areas the nation has to…
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/scotlands-top-five-beautiful-forests-32250694
Project to develop multi-use values of forest ecosystem to 2030 approved
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on February 29 signed a decision approving a project on developing multi-use values of the forest ecosystem to 2030, with a vision to 2050. The project aims to improve the efficiency of management and sustainable…
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/project-to-develop-multiuse-values-of-forest-ecosystem-to-2030-approved/280239.vnp
How AI Enhances Bioenergy from Farms and Forests
The quest for sustainable energy sources is a pressing global issue, given the environmental challenges we face today. A promising avenue in this quest is the utilization of biomass – organic material from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses (AFOLU)…
https://naturalsciencenews.com/article/364
Clean energy is growing, but so is planet-heating pollution
2023 can now boast a terrifying record: planet-heating carbon dioxide emissions from global energy use hit a record. It’s been almost a decade since the adoption of the 2015 Paris climate agreement to stop global warming. To fulfill the most ambitious goals…
https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/1/24087737/clean-energy-climate-change-emissions-peak-iea-report
El Niño forecast to drive record heat from the Amazon to Alaska in 2024
The current climate event known as El Niño is likely to supercharge global heating and deliver record-breaking temperatures from the Amazon to Alaska in 2024, analysis has found. Coastal areas of India by the Bay of Bengal and by the South China Sea, as…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/29/el-nino-forecast-record-heat-2024-climate-crisis
Ghana: can contract farming help smallholder farmers build resilience to climate change?
Contract farming is when farmers grow crops to meet contracts they have signed with buyers. They agree on a fixed price upfront. As a result, the farmers do not have to search for buyers after the harvest or negotiate a price for their crops…
https://theconversation.com/ghana-can-contract-farming-help-smallholder-farmers-build-resilience-to-climate-change-223577
'White gold' rush: US lithium industry sparks hopes and fears in California
The volcanic subsoil of Imperial Valley in Southern California is home to one of the world's largest lithium deposits. The mineral is key to producing batteries for electric cars. But the local community could be completely transformed by the arrival of the lithium industry…
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20240301-white-gold-rush-us-lithium-industry-sparks-hopes-and-fears-in-california
‘Revolutionary’: EU Parliament votes to criminalise most serious cases of ecosystem destruction
The European Union has become the first international body to criminalise the most serious cases of environmental damage that are “comparable to ecocide”. Ecosystem destruction, including habitat loss and illegal logging, will be punished with tougher…
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/02/27/revolutionary-eu-criminalises-the-most-serious-cases-of-ecosystem-destruction
What are zombie fires and how dangerous are they?
Like animals, fires can hibernate in the cold, smoldering underground for months on end. Known as holdover or zombie fires, they are not characterized by roaring flames but by plumes of smoke seeping from the ground…
https://www.dw.com/en/what-are-zombie-fires-and-how-dangerous-are-they/a-68397575
Drax: UK power station still burning rare forest wood
A power company that has received £6bn in UK green subsidies has kept burning wood from some of the world's most precious forests, the BBC has found. Papers obtained by Panorama show Drax took timber from rare forests in Canada it had claimed were…
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68381160
UN member states are meeting to plan how to tackle the world’s environmental crises
The world’s top decision-making body on the environment is meeting in Kenya’s capital this week to discuss how countries can work together to tackle environmental crises like climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity…
https://apnews.com/article/nairobi-unea-united-nations-environment-assembly-e630b401abd4f684184ff9aac9dad4af
Compiled by Nelson Wong
- Rory MacLean
Join Us for the UNECE International Day of Forests Event on 21 March
Dear Forest Community, We are thrilled to invite you to join us in celebrating the International Day of Forests on 21 March 2024. This special occasion will feature a two-part event hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe…
https://unece.org/info/events/event/386484
Latitudinal patterns in stabilizing density dependence of forest communities
Numerous studies have shown reduced performance in plants that are surrounded by neighbours of the same species, a phenomenon known as conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD). A long-held ecological hypothesis posits that CNDD is more…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07118-4
Earthquakes impact forest resilience for decades post-event, research suggests
Earthquake effects are often thought of in terms of the human impact, be that fatalities or destruction to homes and infrastructure. However, the environmental toll can also be damaging, and new research, published in Nature Geoscience…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-earthquakes-impact-forest-resilience-decades.html
Hai-quan Huang's research team at Southwest Forestry University has revealed the cellular and molecular basis of the spur development in Impatiens uliginosa
As an important reproductive organ of angiosperms, flowers have clear purposefulness and adaptive significance in their various characteristics. As a typical floral evolutionary feature, the floral spur is a tubular structure extending from the petal, which has…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1035907
Wildfire Danger in Arkansas | What is the science behind the risk?
In February, you may not have expected to hear us talk about temperatures in the 80s! You also might be caught off guard by the fact that our wildfire danger is elevated across the state. Yes, the warm temperatures and low humidity might feel amazing, but that…
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/weather/wildfire-arkansas-science-behind-risk-fire-drought-dry-forestry/527-85529ad2-5f5f-4401-bdca-2617e0a699f5
Tree canopies help forests recover
Extreme events wipe out entire forests, dramatically eliminating complex ecosystems as well as local communities. Researchers have become quite familiar with such attention-grabbing events throughout the years. They know less, however, about the more…
https://agupdate.com/agriview/news/technology/tree-canopies-help-forests-recover/article_e8eab594-c9c3-11ee-a8fc-03a917e935bf.html
The Limits of Math: Study Shows Forests Are More Complex Than Thought
Scientists have found that the growth patterns of trees in a forest differ significantly from the way branches expand on an individual tree. Nature is full of surprising repetitions. In trees, the large branches often look like entire trees, while smaller branches and twigs…
https://scitechdaily.com/the-limits-of-math-study-shows-forests-are-more-complex-than-thought/
Sprucing up high-elevation forests
After the intense wildfires of 2020, Forest Service managers and scientists teamed up with conservation groups, water utilities, and universities. Their mission: To fix the damage to watersheds in the aftermath of massive high-elevation blazes…
https://www.fs.usda.gov/features/sprucing-high-elevation-forests
Deciphering the dynamic regulatory networks of poplar leaf development: A comprehensive transcriptomic and miRNA analysis
Poplar trees are crucial for afforestation and urban greening, and their leaf development stages affect biomass accumulation. Despite the known physiological changes from young to senescent leaves, the transcriptional regulatory network in poplars is poorly…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1035905
The secret lives of roots: Tropical forest root systems are central to improving climate change predictions
International research co-authored by Joshua Fisher, associate professor in Chapman University's Schmid College of Science and Technology, suggests that studying root function in tropical forests could help vegetation models improve predictions of…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-secret-roots-tropical-forest-root.html
This tiny carnivore could be the key to tracking nearly a dozen declining Maine species
If you want to learn about the health of wild animals in the forests of Maine, pay attention to what's going on with the American marten. Research at the University of Maine led by Alessio Mortelliti, an associate professor in UMaine's department of wildlife, fisheries…
https://www.aol.com/tiny-carnivore-could-key-tracking-113200848.html
The sound of the ground - forests and climate change
Record-breaking temperatures and natural disasters make headlines. But the steady march of global warming remains an abstract idea for many people. Researchers are trying to change that with recordings from forest ecosystems…
https://www.dw.com/en/the-sound-of-the-ground-forests-and-climate-change/video-68349513
Irrecoverable Carbon In The Mountains: Embracing The Opportunity Of Agroforestry
Over 29% of global irrecoverable carbon, which once gone is not likely to recover in any reasonable timeframe according to scientific literature, is stored in mountains. This biomass, representing irreplaceable ecosystems, biodiversity, and globally significant…
https://www.eurasiareview.com/25022024-irrecoverable-carbon-in-the-mountains-embracing-the-opportunity-of-agroforestry/
Brown bears digging up artificial forests, study shows
Brown bears foraging for food in the Shiretoko Peninsula of Hokkaido, Japan, have been disrupting tree growth in artificial conifer forests, according to a new study published in Ecology. Researchers compared soil and tree samples from human-forested plots…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-brown-artificial-forests.html
NASA-funded study brings together researchers from across the world to unravel mysteries of tropical forests
Scientists from leading universities and research institutions worldwide convened in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, to initiate a knowledge-sharing initiative regarding a scoping process. This will guide a decade-long project on tropical forests funded by the…
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/nasa-funded-study-brings-together-researchers-from-across-the-world-to-unravel-mysteries-of-tropical-forests-94683
Revolutionizing Forestry: Sweden's Leap Towards Precision with Laser Scanning
Explore the innovative collaboration between the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden and Komatsu Forest, leading the way in precision forestry operations. Learn how laser scanning technology is revolutionizing the timber harvesting process and paving the…
https://bnnbreaking.com/world/sweden/revolutionizing-forestry-swedens-leap-towards-precision-with-laser-scanning
Timber company to support university forestry program
Stiga RM, one of Latvia’s leading timber companies, has announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) in support of science and education…
https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/01.03.2024-timber-company-to-support-university-forestry-program.a544995/
Revolutionizing Australia's Forestry: New Research Centres to Propel Industry into Low Emissions Future
Under the Albanese Government's Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) program, two new research centres have been selected to join forces with the University of Tasmania (UTAS) in transforming Australia's forestry industry into a more sustainable…
https://bnnbreaking.com/world/australia/revolutionizing-australias-forestry-new-research-centres-to-propel-industry-into-low-emissions-future
Save our forests: an ‘SOS’ against the invasive lantana camara
Ornamental attraction can be a disastrous one. The story of the invasive flowering plant Lantana Camara is one such. It is wreaking havoc in Karnataka’s forests and crops, calling for urgent steps to restrict its spread…
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Feb/24/save-our-forests-an-sos-against-the-invasive-lantana-camara
Our Breathing Earth: A Review of Soil Respiration Science
The ground beneath our feet is exhaling. Steadily and without pause, through a process called soil respiration, plant roots and microbes release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. The amount of CO2 that passes from the soil to the air is significant…
https://eos.org/research-spotlights/our-breathing-earth-a-review-of-soil-respiration-science
Shedding light on the intricacies of numerical simulations of soil behavior
A solid understanding of soil mechanics and behavior is one of the fundamental pillars of geotechnical engineering. The stability and resilience of many modern geotechnical structures, including building foundations, dams, bridges, and embankments, rely on…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1035732
Global warming found to increase the diversity of active soil bacteria
Warmer soils harbor a greater diversity of active microbes, according to a new study from researchers at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna. The study, published in Science Advances, represents a…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-global-diversity-soil-bacteria.html
Unlocking the Secrets of Soil Microbes to Improve Climate Predictions
Climate models are essential to predicting and addressing climate change, but can fail to adequately represent soil microbes, a critical player in ecosystem soil carbon sequestration that affects the global carbon cycle. A team of scientists led by the…
https://scitechdaily.com/unlocking-the-secrets-of-soil-microbes-to-improve-climate-predictions/
Study reveals accelerated soil priming under climate warming
A first-of-its-kind study led by researchers at the University of Oklahoma highlights a crucial biosphere feedback mechanism and its effects on releasing soil carbon into the atmosphere. Jizhong Zhou, the director of the Institute for Environmental Genomics…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1035968
A rapid and simple method for the extraction of biogenic silica (BSi) in phytolith-poor sediments and soils
Phytoliths can be used to reconstruct human-nature dynamics over the long term (from decennial to centennial and millennial time scales) and may capture activities that cannot be reconstructed through other proxies. Phytoliths consist of fossil biogenic silica (BSi)…
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016124000888
India bets on green credits, but could they reward deforestation?
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased the country's Green Credit Programme at COP28 in Dubai, he billed it as a new tool in the fight against climate change that "goes beyond the commercial mindset associated with carbon credits"…
https://www.context.news/nature/india-bets-on-green-credits-but-could-they-reward-deforestation
UAE: Community drive to plant 50,000 mangrove seedlings by March 1
During the week ending March 1, a week-long campaign seeks to add 50,000 more mangrove trees in the UAE as part of the 44th Planting Week, which kicked off yesterday (Monday, February 26). Under the theme “Together, Let’s Plant the UAE”, the initiative…
https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/uae-community-drive-to-plant-50000-mangrove-seedlings-by-march-1-1.101305687
Restoring mangroves a nature-based fix for plight planet faces
Mangroves — shrub and tree species that live along shores, rivers and estuaries — are a cost-effective solution to tackling the climate crisis, according to Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the assistant secretary general of the United Nations Environment Programme…
https://mg.co.za/the-green-guardian/2024-02-26-restoring-mangroves-a-nature-based-fix-for-plight-planet-faces/
UK-PACT, FAO Launch Initiative to Shield Nigeria's Mangroves from Pollution, Deforestation
The United Kingdom Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK-PACT) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have embarked on a crucial venture to protect the mangrove ecosystems in Cross River State, Nigeria. This project…
https://bnnbreaking.com/world/africa/uk-pact-fao-launch-initiative-to-shield-nigerias-mangroves-from-pollution-deforestation
‘Guardians of the forest’: How art made from the ashes of Amazon Rainforest fires is helping Indigenous communities
Perched on a branch amidst the cover of darkness is a Xingu screech owl with piercing, fiery amber eyes. Created by British artist Sarah Ball, the artwork is titled “Megascops Stangiae,” referring to the scientific name of this species only found in the Indigenous…
https://edition.cnn.com/style/from-the-ashes-amazon-rainforest-fires-helping-indigenous-communities-c2e-spc-intl/index.html
Act to save Dartmoor rainforest from sheep, urge campaigners
There are acorns galore and tiny oaks sprouting from tussocky grass beside the gnarled ancient trees of Black-a-Tor Copse on the northern slopes of Dartmoor national park. But each tiny sapling grows no higher than a sheep’s chin and there it stays, its new shoots…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/01/save-dartmoor-rainforest-black-a-tor-copse-from-sheep-urge-campaigners
The secret lives of roots: Tropical forest root systems are central to improving climate change predictions
International research co-authored by Joshua Fisher, associate professor in Chapman University’s Schmid College of Science and Technology, suggests that studying root function in tropical forests could help vegetation models improve predictions of climate…
https://news.chapman.edu/2024/02/29/the-secret-lives-of-roots-tropical-forest-root-systems-are-central-to-improving-climate-change-predictions/
Joint superpixel and Transformer for high resolution remote sensing image classification
Deep neural networks combined with superpixel segmentation have proven to be superior to high-resolution remote sensing image (HRI) classification. Currently, most HRI classification methods that combine deep learning and superpixel segmentation use…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-55482-y
Using AI to enhance satellite imagery to monitor the planet
A new method to assess different satellite designs using a powerful AI technique to more cheaply monitor our planet from space has been published in the journal Remote Sensing Letters. Thanks to an international team led by Swinburne University of Technology and…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-ai-satellite-imagery-planet.html
Security-oriented steganographic payload allocation for multi-remote sensing images
Multi-image steganography, a technique for concealing information within multiple carrier mediums, finds remote sensing images to be particularly apt carriers due to their complex structures and abundant texture data. These characteristics bolster the resilience…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-55474-y
AI reveals secret roads endangering the world's rainforests
Satellite images analyzed by AI are emerging as a new tool in finding unmapped roads that bring environmental destruction to wilderness areas. James Cook University's Distinguished Professor Bill Laurance was co-author of a study analyzing the reliability…
https://phys.org/news/2024-02-ai-reveals-secret-roads-endangering.html
A modified generative adversarial networks with Yolov5 for automated forest health diagnosis from aerial imagery and Tabu search algorithm
Our environment has been significantly impacted by climate change. According to previous research, insect catastrophes induced by global climate change killed many trees, inevitably contributing to forest fires. The condition of the forest is an essential…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-54399-w
The surprising US region that's home to the world's oldest forests
Picture a hot, tropical landscape near the equator full of shallow seas. Birds and invertebrates don't yet exist. Neither does the Atlantic Ocean. Instead, a mountain range the height of the Andes looms over fragile stretches of trees that resemble palms…
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240229-the-surprising-us-region-thats-home-to-the-worlds-oldest-forests
When Forests Come Down with a Bug: Forest Pests in the Greater DC Area
Forests of the National Capital Region (NCR) face persistent threats from a variety of pests and pathogens. As part of the eastern deciduous forest, our forests are rich in biodiversity. This includes native species and naturalized forest pests, while other newly introduced…
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/pests-and-pathogens.htm
Adapting our forests for climate change - why genetic diversity matters
Laura Guillardín and Niall Farrelly, Teagasc Forestry Development Department, write about the importance of genetic diversity in trees for adapting to the impacts of climate change, through conservation, restoration, and management strategies…
https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/forestry/adapting-our-forests-for-climate-change---why-genetic-diversity-matters.php
Cambodia’s environment ministry acts to curb forestry crimes, illegal encroachment
The Ministry of Environment has announced key measures to curb encroachment on community forests and protected areas, warning that a small minority of people are continuing to use using protected land for their personal gain…
https://asianews.network/cambodias-environment-ministry-acts-to-curb-forestry-crimes-illegal-encroachment/
The world’s business and finance sectors can do much more to reverse deforestation – here’s the data to prove it
Big corporations could drive a worldwide shift towards more sustainable supply chains that limit damage caused by deforestation. But progress is being slowed down by weak or non-existent commitments to ensure that supply chains for commodities such as soy…
https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-business-and-finance-sectors-can-do-much-more-to-reverse-deforestation-heres-the-data-to-prove-it-224392
How a common — and contentious — pesticide is impacting Canada’s forests
A professor at the University of Northern British Columbia has been tapped to study the ecological impacts of glyphosate-based pesticides on forests. Glyphosate pesticides are routinely used by logging companies across Canada to kill off leafy deciduous plants…
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/03/01/news/how-common-controversial-pesticide-impacting-canada-forests
Ontario Investing $60 Million in Forest Biomass Program
The Government of Ontario is investing an additional $60 million in the Forest Biomass Program. The program funds projects that harvest more wood from Crown forests, increase regional economic growth and find new uses for underutilized wood and mill…
https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1004242/ontario-investing-60-million-in-forest-biomass-program
Liberia: RICCE Participates in National Dialogue on Nationally Determined Contributions with Focus on Forest
The Rural Integrated Center for Community Empowerment (RICCE) Tuesday February 27, 2024 participated in a one-day National Dialogue on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with a focus on the forest target. The Nationally Determined…
https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-ricce-participates-in-national-dialogue-on-nationally-determined-contributions-with-focus-on-forest/
Scotland's top five 'beautiful' forests to explore named ahead of spring
Five "beautiful" Scottish forests have been named as among the best in the UK ahead of spring by a popular magazine. Sustainable living magazine Pebble rated forests across the UK, and named five in Scotland as some of the best outdoor areas the nation has to…
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/scotlands-top-five-beautiful-forests-32250694
Project to develop multi-use values of forest ecosystem to 2030 approved
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on February 29 signed a decision approving a project on developing multi-use values of the forest ecosystem to 2030, with a vision to 2050. The project aims to improve the efficiency of management and sustainable…
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/project-to-develop-multiuse-values-of-forest-ecosystem-to-2030-approved/280239.vnp
How AI Enhances Bioenergy from Farms and Forests
The quest for sustainable energy sources is a pressing global issue, given the environmental challenges we face today. A promising avenue in this quest is the utilization of biomass – organic material from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses (AFOLU)…
https://naturalsciencenews.com/article/364
Clean energy is growing, but so is planet-heating pollution
2023 can now boast a terrifying record: planet-heating carbon dioxide emissions from global energy use hit a record. It’s been almost a decade since the adoption of the 2015 Paris climate agreement to stop global warming. To fulfill the most ambitious goals…
https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/1/24087737/clean-energy-climate-change-emissions-peak-iea-report
El Niño forecast to drive record heat from the Amazon to Alaska in 2024
The current climate event known as El Niño is likely to supercharge global heating and deliver record-breaking temperatures from the Amazon to Alaska in 2024, analysis has found. Coastal areas of India by the Bay of Bengal and by the South China Sea, as…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/29/el-nino-forecast-record-heat-2024-climate-crisis
Ghana: can contract farming help smallholder farmers build resilience to climate change?
Contract farming is when farmers grow crops to meet contracts they have signed with buyers. They agree on a fixed price upfront. As a result, the farmers do not have to search for buyers after the harvest or negotiate a price for their crops…
https://theconversation.com/ghana-can-contract-farming-help-smallholder-farmers-build-resilience-to-climate-change-223577
'White gold' rush: US lithium industry sparks hopes and fears in California
The volcanic subsoil of Imperial Valley in Southern California is home to one of the world's largest lithium deposits. The mineral is key to producing batteries for electric cars. But the local community could be completely transformed by the arrival of the lithium industry…
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20240301-white-gold-rush-us-lithium-industry-sparks-hopes-and-fears-in-california
‘Revolutionary’: EU Parliament votes to criminalise most serious cases of ecosystem destruction
The European Union has become the first international body to criminalise the most serious cases of environmental damage that are “comparable to ecocide”. Ecosystem destruction, including habitat loss and illegal logging, will be punished with tougher…
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/02/27/revolutionary-eu-criminalises-the-most-serious-cases-of-ecosystem-destruction
What are zombie fires and how dangerous are they?
Like animals, fires can hibernate in the cold, smoldering underground for months on end. Known as holdover or zombie fires, they are not characterized by roaring flames but by plumes of smoke seeping from the ground…
https://www.dw.com/en/what-are-zombie-fires-and-how-dangerous-are-they/a-68397575
Drax: UK power station still burning rare forest wood
A power company that has received £6bn in UK green subsidies has kept burning wood from some of the world's most precious forests, the BBC has found. Papers obtained by Panorama show Drax took timber from rare forests in Canada it had claimed were…
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68381160
UN member states are meeting to plan how to tackle the world’s environmental crises
The world’s top decision-making body on the environment is meeting in Kenya’s capital this week to discuss how countries can work together to tackle environmental crises like climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity…
https://apnews.com/article/nairobi-unea-united-nations-environment-assembly-e630b401abd4f684184ff9aac9dad4af
Compiled by Nelson Wong
IFL Owner
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