Conservation / Tree Health

by Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres

The reason why so many tree species can coexist in species-rich forests has long been a subject of debate in ecology. This question is key to understanding the mechanisms governing the dynamics and stability of forests. An international team of scientists led by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has now discovered unexpected patterns in the spatial distribution of tree species, as reported in the journal Nature.

In the most comprehensive global analysis of genetic diversity ever undertaken, an international team of scientists has found that the genetic diversity is being lost across the globe but that conservation efforts are helping to safeguard species.

The landmark study, published in the pre-eminent scientific journal Nature, was led by Associate Professor Catherine Grueber from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences and a team of researchers from countries including the UK, Sweden, Poland, Spain, Greece and China.

by University of Cambridge

A major study of botanic gardens around the world has revealed their struggles with one fundamental aim: to safeguard the world's most threatened plants from extinction.

Researchers analyzed a century's worth of records—from 1921 to 2021—from fifty botanic gardens and arboreta currently growing half a million plants, to see how the world's living plant collections have changed over time.

The Morton Arboretum is pleased to announce it has awarded $7.9 million in federal urban and community forestry funding to 39 Illinois organizations—ranging from government entities and community groups to higher education institutions and other nonprofits—for urban and community forestry work in priority areas across the state.

Awarded organizations will collectively plant and care for more than 8,300 trees, prune more than 1,300 trees in need of maintenance, remove at least 240 dead, high-risk or invasive trees, and train 210 staff or community members in forestry work. 

By Rodielon Putol

Scientists and botanists are continuously exploring nature’s vast variety, making tree and plant discoveries that highlight the richness of our planet’s biodiversity.

These findings spark excitement and curiosity, offering fresh perspectives on the vast array of plant species still awaiting exploration. Most recently, experts have added to the world of botanical discoveries by naming six new tree species.

These species were identified during an exhaustive comparison of dried plant specimens gathered from across the Neotropics.

By Sean Cummings

For newly sprouted trees, cattle and deer are usually a curse, come to nibble away what little body they have. But an advance article posted in October in the Annals of Botany suggests that in certain circumstances, the browsing animals could be a blessing in disguise: Losing leaves may help California oak seedlings conserve water during drought, boosting their chances of surviving.

More than one in three tree species worldwide faces extinction - IUCN Red List The IUCN Red List now includes 166,061 species, of which 46,337 are threatened with extinction.

by University of Birmingham

Forests with a greater diversity of trees are more productive—potentially leading to greater efficiency in capturing planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a new study reveals.

Researchers found that trees that grow quickly, and capture carbon faster, tend to be smaller and have shorter lifespans, leading to lower carbon storage and faster release back into the atmosphere.

Slower growing species live longer and grow larger, tending to capture more atmospheric carbon—particularly in the setting of more diverse forests.

Over a third of threatened or understudied oak tree species in Mesoamerica are not held in managed botanical collections anywhere in the world, and for many species, protection of their native habitats is lacking.

by Jordan Palli, University of Tuscia

Human disturbance has altered the integrity and functionality of forests throughout the globe, with the greatest impact on regions characterized by historical human cultural development and long-term natural resource exploitation. This is the case in the Mediterranean Basin, where terrestrial ecosystems have been shaped and simplified for thousands of years.