Restoring California's forests to reduce wildfire risks will take time, billions of dollars and a broad commitment
Restoring western forests – thinning out small trees and dead wood – is an important strategy for reducing the risk of massive wildfires. But these projects aren't fast, easy or cheap.
Oct. 13, 2020 • ~10 min
Tags: climate-change water california-wildfires forests ecosystem-services wildfires us-west us-forest-service sierra-nevada watersheds forest-restoration
A proposed mine threatens Minnesota's Boundary Waters, the most popular wilderness in the US
Conservation or copper? A proposed mine in northern Minnesota pits industrial jobs against a thriving outdoor economy.
Oct. 5, 2020 • ~10 min
Tags: conservation forests water-pollution fishing donald-trump-administration mining rivers minerals outdoors lakes copper wilderness us-forest-service minnesota sonny-perdue camping
Evolution on the smallest of scales smooths out the patchwork patterns of where plants and animals live
Local adaptation allows plants and animals to thrive in a diversity of places. Sometimes adaptation sharpens patterns of where organisms live, but 85% of the time, it creates a more homogeneous world.
Oct. 2, 2020 • ~10 min
Tags: evolution environment ecology trees forests charles-darwin adaptation
Climate change and forest management have both fueled today's epic Western wildfires
Debating whether climate change or forest management has caused the devastating wildfires in California, Washington and Oregon is a false choice.
Sept. 16, 2020 • ~10 min
Tags: climate-change donald-trump wildfire forests california us-history wildfire-fighting oregon logging forest-management washington-state us-west endangered-species-act timber-industry us-forest-service
Chimpanzees in volatile habitats evolved to behave more flexibly – it could help them weather climate change
As in humans, environmental changes provoked chimpanzees to develop a diverse range of behaviours.
Sept. 15, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: evolution climate-change human-evolution forests grasslands savanna behaviour
Across the world, trees are growing faster, dying younger – and will soon store less carbon
We analysed 210,000 tree ring records from 80 different species, and found the trade off between growth and lifespan may neutralise the forest carbon sink.
Sept. 8, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: climate-change trees forests carbon-sinks
What's in wildfire smoke, and why is it so bad for your lungs?
Wildfires blanketing several Western cities are creating hazardous health conditions. Don't count on cloth masks to protect your lungs.
Aug. 20, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: health environment covid-19 coronavirus pollution lungs heat-wave forests air-pollution heat particulates wildfires smoke firefighting
What's in that wildfire smoke, and why is it so bad for your lungs?
Wildfires blanketing several Western cities are creating hazardous health conditions. Don't count on cloth masks to protect your lungs.
Aug. 20, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: health environment covid-19 coronavirus pollution lungs heat-wave forests air-pollution heat particulates wildfires smoke firefighting
Are young trees or old forests more important for slowing climate change?
The age of a forest can influence how effectively it offsets our emissions.
July 30, 2020 • ~7 min
Tags: climate-change trees forests deforestation reforestation tree-planting carbon-cycle natural-climate-solutions
How deforestation helps deadly viruses jump from animals to humans
Yellow fever, malaria and Ebola all spilled over from animals to humans at the edges of tropical forests. The new coronavirus is the latest zoonosis.
June 25, 2020 • ~11 min
Tags: health climate covid-19 coronavirus ebola pandemic malaria forests disease epidemics wildlife deforestation bats wildlife-trade monkeys mosquitoes yellow-fever zoonoses vectors carrying-capacity
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