Conservation / Tree Health

by Brenda Dawson

The cooling shade of UC Davis’ mature, leafy trees impressed Nurjannah Wiryadimejo enough to help the now-graduating senior choose to become an Aggie. “When I first came to Davis, what struck me was how beautiful the cork oaks are. I’d never seen such beautiful tree-lined streets like the ones by the Memorial Union,” she said. “But now I’ve realized that a lot of the trees on campus aren’t well suited for the future climate, when there will be more heat and extreme weather events,” said the environmental science and management major.

Tourists marvel at two iconic trees (Shorea leprosula Miq. and Ficus albipila (Miq.) King), known as the 'couple tree', in Kebun Raya, Bogor, Indonesia. Trees sustain life on this planet and enrich our lives in multiple ways. However, we are losing tree diversity at an alarming rate. Cannon et al’s article “The Global Tree Assessment provides a multifaceted view on the future of tree diversity conservation” highlights the work of the Global Tree Assessment through the lens of 13 articles that make up this special issue.

A major surge in climate resilience funding is allowing urban forestry departments to focus on trees. About $1.5 billion of funding will be invested in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program.

Driving along the Rock River, Mitch Leatherbie, a street superintendent for the city of Rockford, Illinois, spots a pair of trees he considers survivors.“There's two ash trees, right, they're still standing,” said Leatherbie. “... Those were just a couple of them that we kept.”

By Eric Ralls

A decade-long investigation suggests that the diversity of tree species planted in forests can significantly contribute to their survival, according to the latest findings from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and The Nature Conservancy. 

Event inspires hope, celebrates the partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine, and recognizes USDA's efforts in assisting Ukraine's agricultural sectors

by Bev Betkowski, University of Alberta

Keeping tree diversity intact in Canada's many forests over the long term can help increase carbon capture and mitigate climate change, according to a new University of Alberta study.

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2023 – Today, in anticipation of the upcoming Earth Day celebrations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced actions to foster forest conservation, enhance forest resilience to climate change, and inform policymaking on ensuring healthy forests on federally managed lands administered by the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Today, the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest conservation organization, announces that two iconic Chicago institutions – The Morton Arboretum and Shedd Aquarium – have been named as Centers for Species Survival.

by Martha O'Hagan Luff, The Conversation

Despite its green image, Ireland has surprisingly little forest. Across Europe, nations average around 35% forest cover but in Ireland the figure is just 11%, one of the lowest on the continent.

By Dino Grandoni

Put down the apple. It’s the tree that may help keep the doctor away.

In urban areas, trees shade sidewalks, suck up air pollution, soften traffic noise — and are just plain nice to look at. And by taking climate-warming carbon out of the atmosphere, trees are good for the planet, too.

It turns out the health gains of all that greenery add up.

A recent study conducted in Portland, Ore., found that in neighborhoods where a nonprofit planted more trees, fewer people died.