Wild turkey numbers are falling in some parts of the US – the main reason may be habitat loss

Wild turkeys were overhunted across the US through the early 1900s, but made a strong comeback. Now, though, numbers are declining again. Two ecologists parse the evidence and offer an explanation.

William Gulsby, Associate Professor of Wildlife Management, Auburn University • conversation
April 19, 2024 ~10 min

What is dirt? There’s a whole wriggling world alive in the ground beneath our feet, as a soil scientist explains

Rock dust is only part of the story of soil. Living creatures, many of them too tiny to see, keep that soil healthy for growing everything from food to forests.

Brian Darby, Associate Professor of Biology, University of North Dakota • conversation
March 25, 2024 ~7 min


Fighting every wildfire ensures the big fires are more extreme, and may harm forests’ ability to adapt to climate change

A new study offers a rare window into the hidden effects of aggressive fire suppression that go beyond fuel accumulation. It may even change the course of forest evolution.

Mark Kreider, Ph.D. Candidate in Forest and Conservation Science, University of Montana • conversation
March 25, 2024 ~7 min

Sweden has vast ‘old growth’ forests – but they are being chopped down faster than the Amazon

Research suggests these forests could disappear by the 2070s.

Pep Canadell, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Environment; Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO • conversation
March 13, 2024 ~5 min

The world’s business and finance sectors can do much more to reverse deforestation – here’s the data to prove it

A recently published report sheds light on how 350 big companies and 150 financial institutions are falling behind with goals to halt and reverse deforestation.

Mary Gagen, Professor of Physical Geography, Swansea University • conversation
March 1, 2024 ~7 min

Carbon offsets bring new investment to Appalachia’s coal fields, but most Appalachians aren’t benefiting

Large parts of Appalachia’s forests, once owned by coal companies, now make money for investors by storing carbon. But the results bring few jobs or sizable investments for residents.

Gabe Schwartzman, Assistant Professor of Geography and Sustainability, University of Tennessee • conversation
Feb. 20, 2024 ~10 min

Old forests are critically important for slowing climate change and merit immediate protection from logging

President Biden has called for protecting large, old trees from logging, but many of them could be cut while the regulatory process grinds forward.

William Moomaw, Professor Emeritus of International Environmental Policy, Tufts University • conversation
Jan. 19, 2024 ~8 min

Coast redwood trees are enduring, adaptable marvels in a warming world

Redwoods grow in networks that house unique communities of plants and animals high in the air. They offer life lessons about adapting over time.

Daniel Lewis, Lecturer in History, California Institute of Technology • conversation
Jan. 3, 2024 ~9 min


Paying people to replant tropical forests − and letting them harvest the timber − can pay off for climate, justice and environment

It might seem counterintuitive to suggest timber harvesting when the goal is to restore forests, but that gives landholders the economic incentive to protect and manage forests over time.

Michiel van Breugel, Associate Professor of Environmental Science, National University of Singapore • conversation
Dec. 15, 2023 ~10 min

Billions have been raised to restore forests, with little success. Here's the missing ingredient

When forest communities have secure rights and tenure, the results can be miraculous.

Dhanapal Govindarajulu, Postgraduate Researcher, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester • conversation
Dec. 7, 2023 ~8 min

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