Forests are complex ecosystems that cover approximately 31% of the Earth’s land surface. They consist of a dense collection of trees, shrubs, plants, and animal species that interact with each other and their physical environment. Forests play critical roles in maintaining biodiversity, regulating climate, and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people globally. They act as carbon sinks, absorbing a significant amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is vital for climate change mitigation. There are various types of forests, including tropical rainforests, which are known for their high biodiversity and are predominantly found near the equator; temperate forests, which experience seasonal changes and are found in regions with warm summers and cold winters; and boreal forests or taigas, which are located in the cold climates of the northern latitudes and are dominated by coniferous trees. Deforestation due to agriculture, logging, and urban development is a major global concern, as it affects biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water cycles, and local and global climates.
Climate change impacts tree migrations by disrupting essential symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, necessary for nutrient exchange and survival in new habitats. As our planet…
Huge understory fires are spreading throughout the state in northern Brazil as drought and heat turn the rainforest into tinder. Roraima—Brazil’s northernmost state—has a wet…
The future site of Indonesia’s new capital saw rapid change between 2022 and 2024. Since the summer of 2022, the jungles of eastern Borneo have…
Alarming projections show a significant rise in carbon emissions from mangrove forests by 2100, highlighting the critical need for protection and understanding of human impacts…
Vital forest is cleared every day, with major climate effects. Satellites have revolutionized the measurement of the problem, but what can we do about it?…
Research indicates that Amazon dark earth (ADE) promotes tree growth by as much as sixfold. The study demonstrated that tree seedlings grown in ADE-enriched soils…
Researchers at North Carolina State University (NC State) have successfully applied CRISPR gene-editing technology to breed poplar trees with reduced levels of lignin, a significant…
Adding Amazonian dark earth to soils boosts plant growth, shows study. Adding Amazonian dark earth (ADE) to soils can significantly boost plant growth, according to…
Climate change may jeopardize forests’ carbon storage capacity and the effectiveness of carbon offset projects, according to a new study by University of Utah researchers….
University of Alberta expert challenges popular claims about the “wood-wide web.” The idea that forest trees can “talk” to each other, share resources with their…
Poorly defined land rights increase deforestation, but private land rights must be combined with strict environmental policies. Tropical deforestation causes widespread degradation of biodiversity and…
Scientific names get chosen for lots of reasons — they can honor an important person, or hint at what an organism looks like or where…
New research from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry reveals that Boreal coniferous forests could see increased occurrences of fire as a result of global…
A newly published study reveals the importance of earthworms, beetles, and other tiny creatures to the structure of grasslands and the valuable ecosystem services they…
At more than 11,000 feet above sea level, very important ecosystems known as páramos exist. These kinds of ecosystems are only found in Central and…