The International Forest List Weekly News Digest - March 28, 2024
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“And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.” - William Shakespeare
International Day of Forests: FAO, Google and partners launch solution easing people’s ability to monitor and protect forests
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today marked International Day of Forests by showcasing transformative innovations such as advances in forest monitoring, early warning systems and other vital technical solutions that are…
https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/international-day-of-forests--fao--google-and-partners-launch-solution-easing-people-s-ability-to-monitor-and-protect-forests/en
NEW UM STUDY REVEALS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF FIRE SUPPRESSION
The escalation of extreme wildfires globally has prompted a critical examination of wildfire management strategies. A new study from the University of Montana reveals how fire suppression ensures that wildfires will burn under extreme conditions at high severity…
https://www.umt.edu/news/2024/03/032524fire.php
Bradford pear trees are banned in a few states. More are looking to replace, eradicate them
The Bradford pear tree, with its fluffy white early-spring blossoms, is a looker. Even the tree's putrid aroma emitted at full-bloom hasn't kept it from becoming a go-to ornamental option for developers and landscapers for decades…
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/25/bradford-pear-trees-smell-invasive-species-banned/73040722007/
Research unravels the enigma of curly birch and suggests marker to recognize it at the sprout stage
Curly—or Karelian—birch is a mysterious tree with a patterned wood texture and a bizarre trunk shape. Unlike the elegant white-stemmed traditional birch, the Karelian one may seem unsightly at first glance: It is a low-growing, sinuous tree with bumps and bubbles…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-unravels-enigma-curly-birch-marker.html
Accounting for albedo change to identify climate-positive tree cover restoration
Restoring tree cover changes albedo, which is the fraction of sunlight reflected from the Earth’s surface. In most locations, these changes in albedo offset or even negate the carbon removal benefits with the latter leading to global warming. Previous efforts to…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46577-1
Why scientists are making transparent wood
Thirty years ago, a botanist in Germany had a simple wish: to see the inner workings of woody plants without dissecting them. By bleaching away the pigments in plant cells, Siegfried Fink managed to create transparent wood, and he published his technique in…
https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-03-24/why-scientists-are-making-transparent-wood.html
Scientists discover methods to regulate carbon storage in humus layer of forest in north China
It is estimated that 30% of the world's terrestrial carbon stocks are found in the boreal forest, 60% of which is below ground. Organic soil horizons contain about one-third of the soil carbon. Therefore, the stability of boreal soils is critical to understanding global…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-scientists-methods-carbon-storage-humus.html
Using drone swarms to fight forest fires
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) are using multiple swarms of drones to tackle natural disasters like forest fires. Forest fires are becoming increasingly catastrophic across the world, accelerated by climate change…
https://techxplore.com/news/2024-03-drone-swarms-forest.html
Q&A: Nigeria's forests are fast disappearing. Steps are needed to protect their benefits to the economy and environment
Nigeria's forest cover has been dwindling fast for decades. With one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, there are concerns about the survival of its forest resources. We asked forest management and biodiversity conservation expert Amusa Tajudeen to…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-qa-nigeria-forests-fast-benefits.html
Forests: species composition as a factor in storm resilience?
In recent decades, Europe has experienced increasingly frequent and violent windstorms, considered to be the main cause of forest disturbance, both in terms of areas and volumes of wood affected. This threatens both timber production and other ecosystem services…
https://www.inrae.fr/en/news/forests-species-composition-factor-storm-resilience
Forest Degradation: Bird Decline Across the Country
Research published in Science shows bird populations have been severely declining throughout North America. It states, “Species extinctions have defined the global biodiversity crisis, but extinction begins with loss in abundance of individuals that…
https://davidsuzuki.org/expert-article/forest-degradation-bird-declines-across-the-country/
Environment Experts Question Govt’s Green Credit Scheme, Say Methodology Doesn’t Inspire Confidence
On February 22, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC) released a detailed methodology for a component of its Green Credit Programme, effectively enabling the trade of environmental benefits arising from tree planting…
https://thewire.in/environment/environment-experts-question-govts-green-credit-scheme-say-methodology-doesnt-inspire-confidence
Scientifically managed forest cutting stressed in Pakistan
Scientifically managed forest-cutting makes forestry products more sustainable, helps protect environment from degradation and preserves the greenbelts. “So, there is a dire need to bring awareness about the importance of scientific cutting of forests,”…
https://www.nation.com.pk/25-Mar-2024/scientifically-managed-forest-cutting-stressed-in-pakistan
'Pretending to grow forests in the desert': New research questions integrity in safeguard mechanism scheme
A major Australian study has found some of the nation's biggest polluters are meeting their emissions obligations using carbon credits that have not actually resulted in emissions reductions. Almost a third of projects under Australia's carbon credit scheme did little to…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-26/safeguard-mechanism-accu-challenge/103636382
Initiative to boost access to native tree seeds
A forestry research organisation has launched a climate initiative to enhance the availability of high-quality native tree seeds across several African countries. The “Right Tree, Right Place: Seed Project”, which was launched at ICRAF, Nairobi, will be…
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/amp/environment-climate/article/2001492063/initiative-to-boost-access-to-native-tree-seeds
Climate change disrupts vital ecosystems in the Alps
Reduced snow cover and shifting vegetation patterns in the Alps, both driven by climate change, are having major combined impacts on biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems in the high mountains, according to new research published today…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1038442
Significance of pyrolytic temperature, application rate and incubation period of biochar in improving hydro-physical properties of calcareous sandy loam soil
Biochar is increasingly recognized for its ability to enhance hydro-physical properties of soil, offering promising solutions for improving soil structure, water retention, and overall agricultural productivity. In this study, sandy loam soil was amended at different rates…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57755-y
Soil health monitoring through iterative analysis of soil’s past, present, and future
Soils are the basis of human civilization. Together with biodiversity, climate, and water resources, it is our primary natural capital that we have inherited and should never underestimate or mistreat: 1cm of soil can take between 200–400 years to form under…
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/article/soil-health-monitoring-through-iterative-analysis-of-soils-past-present-and-future/175424/
DayCent-CABBI: new model integrates soil microbes, large perennial grasses
Of all the carbon stored in ecosystems around the world, about half can be found in soils. Depending on climate, vegetation, and management, soils can be either a carbon source or a sink. Natural climate solutions (NCS) offer a promising opportunity to bring us…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1038770
Climate change will see Australia's soil emit CO₂ and add to global warming, research shows
New Curtin University research has shown the warming climate will turn Australia's soil into a net emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2), unless action is taken. "A warming climate will make Australian soil a net emitter of atmospheric CO2" was published in NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-climate-australia-soil-emit-global.html
How disturbances influence carbon sequestration in forest soils
Forest soils store carbon, but release it again in large quantities during natural disturbances or timber harvesting. The way this happens should be considered when calculating CO2-budgets. This is shown in a study by the Swiss Federal Research…
https://www.wsl.ch/en/news/how-disturbances-influence-carbon-sequestration-in-forest-soils/
Mangrove mapping and monitoring using remote sensing techniques towards climate change resilience
Mangroves are amongst the richest ecosystems in the world providing valuable goods and services to millions of people while enhancing the resilience of coastal communities against climate change induced hazards, especially island nations. However, these…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57563-4
HKU remote sensing and landscape scholars reveal global wildfire risk trends in Wildland-Urban Interface areas (1985-2020)
Wildfires present complex socio-economic and ecological challenges, as they devastate vegetation, endanger communities, and cause extensive environmental, wildlife, and human health impacts. These consequences include severe air pollution and soaring…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1038554
Forest and Innovations: Harnessing GIS and remote sensing tools to curb deforestation
In this age of technological advancement, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become a reliable means to address some of the challenges of deforestation. Combined with cutting-edge remote sensing technology (satellites and drones), data collection…
https://www.myjoyonline.com/forest-and-innovations-harnessing-gis-and-remote-sensing-tools-to-curb-deforestation/
Call for Proposals: Mapping Transparency and Governance on Rainforest Issues
The Pulitzer Center is opening a new call for rainforest grant applications. We invite journalists, editors, and independent media organizations to submit proposals on Innovative Reporting: Mapping Transparency and Governance on Rainforest Issues…
https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/call-proposals-mapping-transparency-and-governance-rainforest-issues
International Day of Forests: 10 Deforestation Facts You Should Know About
Since 1990, 420 million hectares of forest have been lost as a result of human activity including land clearing for agricultural farming and logging. As of 2020, forest cover accounts for about 31% of the world’s total land area. Though the rate of deforestation…
https://earth.org/deforestation-facts/
Rainforest response to deglaciation impacted by Australian Indigenous populations, study finds
Australia's Indigenous populations have played an important role in modifying the continent's landscape over millennia, particularly by using fire to create open spaces for daily activities. This continued until they left the area in approximately 1860 due to British…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-rainforest-response-deglaciation-impacted-australian.html
Macron and Lula announce €1 billion investment plan for the Amazon
Their trip to the city of Belem, the host of 2025 UN climate talks, makes Macron the first French president to visit Brazil in 11 years, seeking a fresh start after spats with former president Jair Bolsonaro over environmental destruction and insults directed at his… https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20240327-macron-and-lula-announce-%E2%82%AC1-billion-investment-plan-for-the-amazon
Climate change threatens resilience of Sri Lankan rainforests
Tropical ecosystems store over half of the world's above-ground carbon in their biomass, making them critically important in the global fight against climate change. As carbon dioxide levels continue to rise in the atmosphere, scientists are questioning whether…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-climate-threatens-resilience-sri-lankan.html
As feds stand down, states choose between wetlands protections or rollbacks
For 200 miles, the Wabash River forms the border between Illinois and Indiana as it meanders south to the Ohio River. On the Illinois side, lawmakers are scrambling to pass a bill that would protect wetlands from development and pollution, in order to safeguard…
https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/26/as-feds-stand-down-states-choose-between-wetlands-protections-or-rollbacks/
President Biden Elevates Importance of Wetlands, Clean Water for World Water Day
Birds and people need clean and abundant water in rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and marshes in landscapes throughout the country. Today, the White House is announcing several new initiatives to celebrate World Water Day and protect waterways, and…
https://www.audubon.org/news/president-biden-elevates-importance-wetlands-clean-water-world-water-day
Democratic leaders introduce bill to put 1 million acres of Colorado wetlands under state protection
Nearly a million acres of wetlands in Colorado could gain state protection after losing federal oversight when the U.S. Supreme Court decided last year that wetlands that lacked direct connection to bodies of water didn't require Environmental Protection Agency…
https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/democratic-leaders-introduce-bill-to-put-1-million-acres-of-colorado-wetlands-under-state-protection/article_a2a19240-e793-11ee-ab86-b3549238c388.html
New U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report Finds Continued Decline of Wetlands - More Than Half of Wetlands in the Lower 48 States Are Gone
A new report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reveals wetlands – 95 percent of which are freshwater — covered less than 6 percent of the lower 48 states as of 2019 – which is half the area they covered since the 1780s. The report also identifies that loss…
https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/55239-new-u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service-report-finds-continued-decline-of-wetlands-more-than-half-of-wetlands-in-the-lower-48-states-are-gone
Meta-analysis shows the impacts of ecological restoration on greenhouse gas emissions
International initiatives set ambitious targets for ecological restoration, which is considered a promising greenhouse gas mitigation strategy. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the impacts of ecological restoration on greenhouse gas emissions…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46991-5
How Asia’s development push is driving migratory birds to extinction
The skies over East Asia were once filled with the remarkable sights and sounds of millions of migratory birds making their annual journey between breeding and wintering grounds. Enormous flocks including shorebirds, cranes, geese and songbirds traverse the East…
https://www.scmp.com/comment/asia-opinion/article/3255954/how-asias-development-push-driving-migratory-birds-extinction
Scientists decry threats to Mexican wetland, an oasis in Chihuahuan Desert
Alfalfa plants sway under a thin veil of mist as towering irrigation equipment rolls above the crops, spraying the vast fields with water. It's an important agricultural product in Mexico's northern state of Coahuila, grown there for hundreds of years. Rich in fiber and protein…
https://www.foxnews.com/world/scientists-decry-threats-mexican-wetland-oasis-chihuahuan-desert
NGT issues notices on 'deteriorating conditions' of wetlands water bodies in Kashmir
The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the authorities, including the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee, over the alleged deteriorating conditions of wetlands and water bodies. The green tribunal was hearing a matter in which it had…
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2024/03/20/lgd26-green-kashmir-wetlands.html
Mangroves are ‘just awesome,’ says Tulane researcher
Daniel Friess, the Cochran Family Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Tulane University, keeps it simple when explaining why mangroves, his area of study, are so special. “They’re just awesome.” Mangroves, which are plants known for their large…
https://news.tulane.edu/news/mangroves-are-just-awesome-says-tulane-researcher
Nature-based solutions can help Sundarbans survive
The Sundarbans is a Ramsar site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It provides shelter for 84 species of flora, including 26 mangrove species, 453 species of fauna, 120 species of fish, 290 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and eight amphibian…
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/nature-based-solutions-can-help-sundarbans-survive-95230
OECS marks Intl. day of forests, unveils Woburn mangrove documentary
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of Forests, 2024. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Forests and Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” underscores the critical role of forests…
https://www.stvincenttimes.com/oecs-marks-intl-day-of-forests-unveils-woburn-mangrove-documentary/
10 years after the Oso landslide, a new forest is rising
A white cross made from pegboard and adorned with fabric flowers has begun to fall apart in its long vigil at this cliff’s edge, where a hunk of forest calved off, fell almost 600 feet and slid onto a neighborhood. In all, the slide dislodged enough material to cover 600 football…
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/10-years-after-the-oso-landslide-a-new-forest-is-rising/
In the Central Annamites, an Indigenous group restores its community forest
Just behind Vuong Van Ga’s house in Doi village, lies the first and only community nursery in this central Vietnamese region. There—in 10 oblong, brick-enclosed garden beds, shielded from the harsh tropical sun by low-slung green mesh netting—grows an…
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/in-the-central-annamites-an-indigenous-group-restores-its-community-forest
Australian human-induced native forest regeneration carbon offset projects have limited impact on changes in woody vegetation cover and carbon removals
Carbon offsets are a widely used climate policy instrument that can reduce mitigation costs and generate important environmental and social co-benefits. However, they can increase emissions if they lack integrity. We analysed the performance of one of the…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01313-x
Forest regeneration projects failing to offset carbon emissions
Forest regeneration projects that have received tens of millions of carbon credits and dominate Australia's carbon offset scheme have had negligible impact on woody vegetation cover and carbon sequestration, new research from The Australian National…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-forest-regeneration-offset-carbon-emissions.html
Indonesia leads the way in taming forest fires
Some 70 million hectares of forest are affected by fires each year, causing huge environmental and economic damage. On the International Day of Forests, marked on 21 March, we look at how an innovative UN-led initiative in Indonesia is dramatically…
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147766
Europe's forgotten forests could be 21st century 'biodiversity hot spots'
An overlooked and long-neglected type of forest has vast capacity to rebound, enhancing species diversity and resilience to climate change, according to an international team of forest scientists. According to new research, published in PLOS ONE, there is ample…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-europe-forgotten-forests-21st-century.html
Study of UK’s top bamboo loo rolls shows some are made from other woods
In the bathrooms of the ecologically conscious, bamboo toilet paper is the new bottom line – a supposedly green alternative to the bog-standard pulp-based loo roll that requires the chopping down of 1m trees a year, just to be flushed down the pan…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/27/three-of-uks-top-five-bamboo-loo-roll-brands-made-from-other-wood
We built an AI tool to help set priorities for conservation in Madagascar: what we found
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – models that process large and diverse datasets and make predictions from them – can have many uses in nature conservation, such as remote monitoring (like the use of camera traps to study animals or plants) or data analysis…
https://theconversation.com/we-built-an-ai-tool-to-help-set-priorities-for-conservation-in-madagascar-what-we-found-224882
School’s out: how climate change is already badly affecting children’s education
Schools across South Sudan have been ordered to close as a heat wave of 45°C sweeps across the country. In recent years, severe flooding has already caused major disruptions to schooling in South Sudan where, on average, children complete less than five years…
https://theconversation.com/schools-out-how-climate-change-is-already-badly-affecting-childrens-education-225737
Planting trees in the wrong places could be contributing to global warming, study reveals
Tree-planting is often hailed as a way to fight climate change. But a new study reveals that it might actually be warming up the planet. Trees are known for their ability to soak up planet-heating carbon dioxide. That means planting saplings to boost forest cover is…
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/03/27/planting-trees-in-the-wrong-places-could-be-contributing-to-global-warming-study-reveals
The hidden environmental cost of mining sand
A winter of heavy storms and flooding, especially in late December, has washed away vast stretches of protective sand dunes and bathing beaches on Germany's North Sea islands. Coastal areas on islands such as Sylt, Borkum and Norderney, which together attract…
https://www.dw.com/en/the-hidden-environmental-cost-of-mining-sand/a-68643782
Hydroelectricity is a hidden source of methane emissions. These people want to solve that
It takes just one second for four Olympic-sized swimming pools-worth of water to charge through the turbines at the Tucuruí dam in northern Brazil. The rush of water here at one of the largest hydroelectric reservoirs in the Amazon region is deafening, but it's what…
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240326-how-hydroelectric-dams-are-a-hidden-source-of-carbon-emissions
Compiled by Nelson Wong
International Day of Forests: FAO, Google and partners launch solution easing people’s ability to monitor and protect forests
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today marked International Day of Forests by showcasing transformative innovations such as advances in forest monitoring, early warning systems and other vital technical solutions that are…
https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/international-day-of-forests--fao--google-and-partners-launch-solution-easing-people-s-ability-to-monitor-and-protect-forests/en
NEW UM STUDY REVEALS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF FIRE SUPPRESSION
The escalation of extreme wildfires globally has prompted a critical examination of wildfire management strategies. A new study from the University of Montana reveals how fire suppression ensures that wildfires will burn under extreme conditions at high severity…
https://www.umt.edu/news/2024/03/032524fire.php
Bradford pear trees are banned in a few states. More are looking to replace, eradicate them
The Bradford pear tree, with its fluffy white early-spring blossoms, is a looker. Even the tree's putrid aroma emitted at full-bloom hasn't kept it from becoming a go-to ornamental option for developers and landscapers for decades…
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/25/bradford-pear-trees-smell-invasive-species-banned/73040722007/
Research unravels the enigma of curly birch and suggests marker to recognize it at the sprout stage
Curly—or Karelian—birch is a mysterious tree with a patterned wood texture and a bizarre trunk shape. Unlike the elegant white-stemmed traditional birch, the Karelian one may seem unsightly at first glance: It is a low-growing, sinuous tree with bumps and bubbles…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-unravels-enigma-curly-birch-marker.html
Accounting for albedo change to identify climate-positive tree cover restoration
Restoring tree cover changes albedo, which is the fraction of sunlight reflected from the Earth’s surface. In most locations, these changes in albedo offset or even negate the carbon removal benefits with the latter leading to global warming. Previous efforts to…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46577-1
Why scientists are making transparent wood
Thirty years ago, a botanist in Germany had a simple wish: to see the inner workings of woody plants without dissecting them. By bleaching away the pigments in plant cells, Siegfried Fink managed to create transparent wood, and he published his technique in…
https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-03-24/why-scientists-are-making-transparent-wood.html
Scientists discover methods to regulate carbon storage in humus layer of forest in north China
It is estimated that 30% of the world's terrestrial carbon stocks are found in the boreal forest, 60% of which is below ground. Organic soil horizons contain about one-third of the soil carbon. Therefore, the stability of boreal soils is critical to understanding global…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-scientists-methods-carbon-storage-humus.html
Using drone swarms to fight forest fires
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) are using multiple swarms of drones to tackle natural disasters like forest fires. Forest fires are becoming increasingly catastrophic across the world, accelerated by climate change…
https://techxplore.com/news/2024-03-drone-swarms-forest.html
Q&A: Nigeria's forests are fast disappearing. Steps are needed to protect their benefits to the economy and environment
Nigeria's forest cover has been dwindling fast for decades. With one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, there are concerns about the survival of its forest resources. We asked forest management and biodiversity conservation expert Amusa Tajudeen to…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-qa-nigeria-forests-fast-benefits.html
Forests: species composition as a factor in storm resilience?
In recent decades, Europe has experienced increasingly frequent and violent windstorms, considered to be the main cause of forest disturbance, both in terms of areas and volumes of wood affected. This threatens both timber production and other ecosystem services…
https://www.inrae.fr/en/news/forests-species-composition-factor-storm-resilience
Forest Degradation: Bird Decline Across the Country
Research published in Science shows bird populations have been severely declining throughout North America. It states, “Species extinctions have defined the global biodiversity crisis, but extinction begins with loss in abundance of individuals that…
https://davidsuzuki.org/expert-article/forest-degradation-bird-declines-across-the-country/
Environment Experts Question Govt’s Green Credit Scheme, Say Methodology Doesn’t Inspire Confidence
On February 22, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC) released a detailed methodology for a component of its Green Credit Programme, effectively enabling the trade of environmental benefits arising from tree planting…
https://thewire.in/environment/environment-experts-question-govts-green-credit-scheme-say-methodology-doesnt-inspire-confidence
Scientifically managed forest cutting stressed in Pakistan
Scientifically managed forest-cutting makes forestry products more sustainable, helps protect environment from degradation and preserves the greenbelts. “So, there is a dire need to bring awareness about the importance of scientific cutting of forests,”…
https://www.nation.com.pk/25-Mar-2024/scientifically-managed-forest-cutting-stressed-in-pakistan
'Pretending to grow forests in the desert': New research questions integrity in safeguard mechanism scheme
A major Australian study has found some of the nation's biggest polluters are meeting their emissions obligations using carbon credits that have not actually resulted in emissions reductions. Almost a third of projects under Australia's carbon credit scheme did little to…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-26/safeguard-mechanism-accu-challenge/103636382
Initiative to boost access to native tree seeds
A forestry research organisation has launched a climate initiative to enhance the availability of high-quality native tree seeds across several African countries. The “Right Tree, Right Place: Seed Project”, which was launched at ICRAF, Nairobi, will be…
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/amp/environment-climate/article/2001492063/initiative-to-boost-access-to-native-tree-seeds
Climate change disrupts vital ecosystems in the Alps
Reduced snow cover and shifting vegetation patterns in the Alps, both driven by climate change, are having major combined impacts on biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems in the high mountains, according to new research published today…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1038442
Significance of pyrolytic temperature, application rate and incubation period of biochar in improving hydro-physical properties of calcareous sandy loam soil
Biochar is increasingly recognized for its ability to enhance hydro-physical properties of soil, offering promising solutions for improving soil structure, water retention, and overall agricultural productivity. In this study, sandy loam soil was amended at different rates…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57755-y
Soil health monitoring through iterative analysis of soil’s past, present, and future
Soils are the basis of human civilization. Together with biodiversity, climate, and water resources, it is our primary natural capital that we have inherited and should never underestimate or mistreat: 1cm of soil can take between 200–400 years to form under…
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/article/soil-health-monitoring-through-iterative-analysis-of-soils-past-present-and-future/175424/
DayCent-CABBI: new model integrates soil microbes, large perennial grasses
Of all the carbon stored in ecosystems around the world, about half can be found in soils. Depending on climate, vegetation, and management, soils can be either a carbon source or a sink. Natural climate solutions (NCS) offer a promising opportunity to bring us…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1038770
Climate change will see Australia's soil emit CO₂ and add to global warming, research shows
New Curtin University research has shown the warming climate will turn Australia's soil into a net emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2), unless action is taken. "A warming climate will make Australian soil a net emitter of atmospheric CO2" was published in NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-climate-australia-soil-emit-global.html
How disturbances influence carbon sequestration in forest soils
Forest soils store carbon, but release it again in large quantities during natural disturbances or timber harvesting. The way this happens should be considered when calculating CO2-budgets. This is shown in a study by the Swiss Federal Research…
https://www.wsl.ch/en/news/how-disturbances-influence-carbon-sequestration-in-forest-soils/
Mangrove mapping and monitoring using remote sensing techniques towards climate change resilience
Mangroves are amongst the richest ecosystems in the world providing valuable goods and services to millions of people while enhancing the resilience of coastal communities against climate change induced hazards, especially island nations. However, these…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57563-4
HKU remote sensing and landscape scholars reveal global wildfire risk trends in Wildland-Urban Interface areas (1985-2020)
Wildfires present complex socio-economic and ecological challenges, as they devastate vegetation, endanger communities, and cause extensive environmental, wildlife, and human health impacts. These consequences include severe air pollution and soaring…
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1038554
Forest and Innovations: Harnessing GIS and remote sensing tools to curb deforestation
In this age of technological advancement, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become a reliable means to address some of the challenges of deforestation. Combined with cutting-edge remote sensing technology (satellites and drones), data collection…
https://www.myjoyonline.com/forest-and-innovations-harnessing-gis-and-remote-sensing-tools-to-curb-deforestation/
Call for Proposals: Mapping Transparency and Governance on Rainforest Issues
The Pulitzer Center is opening a new call for rainforest grant applications. We invite journalists, editors, and independent media organizations to submit proposals on Innovative Reporting: Mapping Transparency and Governance on Rainforest Issues…
https://pulitzercenter.org/blog/call-proposals-mapping-transparency-and-governance-rainforest-issues
International Day of Forests: 10 Deforestation Facts You Should Know About
Since 1990, 420 million hectares of forest have been lost as a result of human activity including land clearing for agricultural farming and logging. As of 2020, forest cover accounts for about 31% of the world’s total land area. Though the rate of deforestation…
https://earth.org/deforestation-facts/
Rainforest response to deglaciation impacted by Australian Indigenous populations, study finds
Australia's Indigenous populations have played an important role in modifying the continent's landscape over millennia, particularly by using fire to create open spaces for daily activities. This continued until they left the area in approximately 1860 due to British…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-rainforest-response-deglaciation-impacted-australian.html
Macron and Lula announce €1 billion investment plan for the Amazon
Their trip to the city of Belem, the host of 2025 UN climate talks, makes Macron the first French president to visit Brazil in 11 years, seeking a fresh start after spats with former president Jair Bolsonaro over environmental destruction and insults directed at his… https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20240327-macron-and-lula-announce-%E2%82%AC1-billion-investment-plan-for-the-amazon
Climate change threatens resilience of Sri Lankan rainforests
Tropical ecosystems store over half of the world's above-ground carbon in their biomass, making them critically important in the global fight against climate change. As carbon dioxide levels continue to rise in the atmosphere, scientists are questioning whether…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-climate-threatens-resilience-sri-lankan.html
As feds stand down, states choose between wetlands protections or rollbacks
For 200 miles, the Wabash River forms the border between Illinois and Indiana as it meanders south to the Ohio River. On the Illinois side, lawmakers are scrambling to pass a bill that would protect wetlands from development and pollution, in order to safeguard…
https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/26/as-feds-stand-down-states-choose-between-wetlands-protections-or-rollbacks/
President Biden Elevates Importance of Wetlands, Clean Water for World Water Day
Birds and people need clean and abundant water in rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and marshes in landscapes throughout the country. Today, the White House is announcing several new initiatives to celebrate World Water Day and protect waterways, and…
https://www.audubon.org/news/president-biden-elevates-importance-wetlands-clean-water-world-water-day
Democratic leaders introduce bill to put 1 million acres of Colorado wetlands under state protection
Nearly a million acres of wetlands in Colorado could gain state protection after losing federal oversight when the U.S. Supreme Court decided last year that wetlands that lacked direct connection to bodies of water didn't require Environmental Protection Agency…
https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/democratic-leaders-introduce-bill-to-put-1-million-acres-of-colorado-wetlands-under-state-protection/article_a2a19240-e793-11ee-ab86-b3549238c388.html
New U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report Finds Continued Decline of Wetlands - More Than Half of Wetlands in the Lower 48 States Are Gone
A new report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reveals wetlands – 95 percent of which are freshwater — covered less than 6 percent of the lower 48 states as of 2019 – which is half the area they covered since the 1780s. The report also identifies that loss…
https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/55239-new-u-s-fish-and-wildlife-service-report-finds-continued-decline-of-wetlands-more-than-half-of-wetlands-in-the-lower-48-states-are-gone
Meta-analysis shows the impacts of ecological restoration on greenhouse gas emissions
International initiatives set ambitious targets for ecological restoration, which is considered a promising greenhouse gas mitigation strategy. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the impacts of ecological restoration on greenhouse gas emissions…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46991-5
How Asia’s development push is driving migratory birds to extinction
The skies over East Asia were once filled with the remarkable sights and sounds of millions of migratory birds making their annual journey between breeding and wintering grounds. Enormous flocks including shorebirds, cranes, geese and songbirds traverse the East…
https://www.scmp.com/comment/asia-opinion/article/3255954/how-asias-development-push-driving-migratory-birds-extinction
Scientists decry threats to Mexican wetland, an oasis in Chihuahuan Desert
Alfalfa plants sway under a thin veil of mist as towering irrigation equipment rolls above the crops, spraying the vast fields with water. It's an important agricultural product in Mexico's northern state of Coahuila, grown there for hundreds of years. Rich in fiber and protein…
https://www.foxnews.com/world/scientists-decry-threats-mexican-wetland-oasis-chihuahuan-desert
NGT issues notices on 'deteriorating conditions' of wetlands water bodies in Kashmir
The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the authorities, including the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee, over the alleged deteriorating conditions of wetlands and water bodies. The green tribunal was hearing a matter in which it had…
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2024/03/20/lgd26-green-kashmir-wetlands.html
Mangroves are ‘just awesome,’ says Tulane researcher
Daniel Friess, the Cochran Family Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Tulane University, keeps it simple when explaining why mangroves, his area of study, are so special. “They’re just awesome.” Mangroves, which are plants known for their large…
https://news.tulane.edu/news/mangroves-are-just-awesome-says-tulane-researcher
Nature-based solutions can help Sundarbans survive
The Sundarbans is a Ramsar site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It provides shelter for 84 species of flora, including 26 mangrove species, 453 species of fauna, 120 species of fish, 290 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and eight amphibian…
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/nature-based-solutions-can-help-sundarbans-survive-95230
OECS marks Intl. day of forests, unveils Woburn mangrove documentary
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of Forests, 2024. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Forests and Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” underscores the critical role of forests…
https://www.stvincenttimes.com/oecs-marks-intl-day-of-forests-unveils-woburn-mangrove-documentary/
10 years after the Oso landslide, a new forest is rising
A white cross made from pegboard and adorned with fabric flowers has begun to fall apart in its long vigil at this cliff’s edge, where a hunk of forest calved off, fell almost 600 feet and slid onto a neighborhood. In all, the slide dislodged enough material to cover 600 football…
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/10-years-after-the-oso-landslide-a-new-forest-is-rising/
In the Central Annamites, an Indigenous group restores its community forest
Just behind Vuong Van Ga’s house in Doi village, lies the first and only community nursery in this central Vietnamese region. There—in 10 oblong, brick-enclosed garden beds, shielded from the harsh tropical sun by low-slung green mesh netting—grows an…
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/in-the-central-annamites-an-indigenous-group-restores-its-community-forest
Australian human-induced native forest regeneration carbon offset projects have limited impact on changes in woody vegetation cover and carbon removals
Carbon offsets are a widely used climate policy instrument that can reduce mitigation costs and generate important environmental and social co-benefits. However, they can increase emissions if they lack integrity. We analysed the performance of one of the…
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01313-x
Forest regeneration projects failing to offset carbon emissions
Forest regeneration projects that have received tens of millions of carbon credits and dominate Australia's carbon offset scheme have had negligible impact on woody vegetation cover and carbon sequestration, new research from The Australian National…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-forest-regeneration-offset-carbon-emissions.html
Indonesia leads the way in taming forest fires
Some 70 million hectares of forest are affected by fires each year, causing huge environmental and economic damage. On the International Day of Forests, marked on 21 March, we look at how an innovative UN-led initiative in Indonesia is dramatically…
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147766
Europe's forgotten forests could be 21st century 'biodiversity hot spots'
An overlooked and long-neglected type of forest has vast capacity to rebound, enhancing species diversity and resilience to climate change, according to an international team of forest scientists. According to new research, published in PLOS ONE, there is ample…
https://phys.org/news/2024-03-europe-forgotten-forests-21st-century.html
Study of UK’s top bamboo loo rolls shows some are made from other woods
In the bathrooms of the ecologically conscious, bamboo toilet paper is the new bottom line – a supposedly green alternative to the bog-standard pulp-based loo roll that requires the chopping down of 1m trees a year, just to be flushed down the pan…
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/27/three-of-uks-top-five-bamboo-loo-roll-brands-made-from-other-wood
We built an AI tool to help set priorities for conservation in Madagascar: what we found
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – models that process large and diverse datasets and make predictions from them – can have many uses in nature conservation, such as remote monitoring (like the use of camera traps to study animals or plants) or data analysis…
https://theconversation.com/we-built-an-ai-tool-to-help-set-priorities-for-conservation-in-madagascar-what-we-found-224882
School’s out: how climate change is already badly affecting children’s education
Schools across South Sudan have been ordered to close as a heat wave of 45°C sweeps across the country. In recent years, severe flooding has already caused major disruptions to schooling in South Sudan where, on average, children complete less than five years…
https://theconversation.com/schools-out-how-climate-change-is-already-badly-affecting-childrens-education-225737
Planting trees in the wrong places could be contributing to global warming, study reveals
Tree-planting is often hailed as a way to fight climate change. But a new study reveals that it might actually be warming up the planet. Trees are known for their ability to soak up planet-heating carbon dioxide. That means planting saplings to boost forest cover is…
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/03/27/planting-trees-in-the-wrong-places-could-be-contributing-to-global-warming-study-reveals
The hidden environmental cost of mining sand
A winter of heavy storms and flooding, especially in late December, has washed away vast stretches of protective sand dunes and bathing beaches on Germany's North Sea islands. Coastal areas on islands such as Sylt, Borkum and Norderney, which together attract…
https://www.dw.com/en/the-hidden-environmental-cost-of-mining-sand/a-68643782
Hydroelectricity is a hidden source of methane emissions. These people want to solve that
It takes just one second for four Olympic-sized swimming pools-worth of water to charge through the turbines at the Tucuruí dam in northern Brazil. The rush of water here at one of the largest hydroelectric reservoirs in the Amazon region is deafening, but it's what…
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240326-how-hydroelectric-dams-are-a-hidden-source-of-carbon-emissions
Compiled by Nelson Wong
IFL Owner
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