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FOREST ECOSYSTEM
America introduced Chinese Privet as an ornamental plant in 1852. It later spread across millions of acres of forestFirst spotted in 1852, Chinese privet has spread relentlessly across the American Southeast, wreaking havoc on local ecosystems. This invas...
Earth’s forests lost 60% of their canopy during ancient global warming—could it happen again?Ancient forests endured extreme global warming over 56 million years ago. This warming event caused a significant loss of forest canopy cov...
In 2018, Natasha Whetzel helped burn 20 acres at Delaware’s Hurley Tract to restore habitat. 10 weeks later, native purple love grass had spread extensively, transforming the site into habitats for birds and pollinatorsConservation work in southern Delaware is helping restore and protect important habitats within the Nanticoke River watershed. At Middlefor...
In 1972, a 3,300-acre preservation effort began protecting the Elk River Chain of Lakes in Michigan. More than 50 years later, monitoring shows water quality remains healthyMore than half a century ago, a conservation effort in northern Michigan set out to protect an extraordinary network of waterways, and its ...
Study says wildfire smoke turns rain into liquid fertilizer packed with essential nutrientsWildfire smoke is transforming rainfall into a nutrient-rich fertilizer for ecosystems. This phenomenon, known as smoke-rain days, is becom...
Assam moves to streamline agarwood industry, boost exports and downstream manufacturingAssam is moving to expand its agarwood industry by simplifying regulations, speeding up export permissions and strengthening cultivation, p...
Reforestation with Drones? How aerial seeding technology is bringing new life to Gran Chaco's threatened ecosystemDrones are emerging as a game-changer for tree planting in Argentina’s Gran Chaco, with conservationists deploying biodegradable seed capsu...
In 2012, Ray Milewski and students set research plots at Pennsylvania's Tannersville Cranberry Bog. 10 years later, researchers cleared shrubs to help rare native plants return to the bogIn 2012, Ray Milewski and students established research plots at Pennsylvania’s Tannersville Cranberry Bog. A decade later, researchers cle...
Why are some mountain trees moving downhill as the planet warms? Scientists may have an answerMountain trees are migrating uphill and downhill due to climate change. Their water transport efficiency and drought resistance determine t...
In a 1982 US reservoir review, fish and plankton productivity rose after valleys were flooded, then declined as spawning habitat and detritus became less availableFollowing the creation of American reservoirs, there’s an initial surge in fish populations, creating a thriving aquatic ecosystem. However...
In the mid-1920s, William R. Angell brought nine white-tailed deer to North Manitou Island for hunting; by the early 1980s, the herd was estimated at 2,000Six deer introduced to North Manitou Island in 1926 dramatically altered its ecosystem. Without predators, the deer population grew to two ...
Enough of Gurugram as Potemkin villageGurugram's modern facade crumbles during heavy rains, revealing inadequate infrastructure and poor upkeep. Over-concretisation and insuffic...
In 1968, Hawaii introduced 8 mouflon sheep for trophy hunting. 36 years later, thousands were threatening native vegetationIn 1968, eight mouflon sheep were introduced into Hawaii Island for hunting purposes. By 2004, their numbers soared to over 2,500, causing ...
In 1772, Benjamin Franklin sent Chinese tallow seeds to Savannah, Georgia; the government planted more along the Gulf in 1900, and the tree now covers 185,000 hectaresIn the late 1700s, a shipment of 1772 seeds sparked a significant invasion of non-native trees across southern U.S. forests. The federal pl...
In 1988, scientists began quantifying the ocean's global productivity. 38 years later, microscopic phytoplankton produce roughly 50% of Earth's oxygenScientists began measuring the ocean’s global productivity in 1988, revealing a hidden force behind Earth’s oxygen cycle. Nearly four decad...
In 2001, protected tropical forests entered a global wildfire study spanning 24 years. 23 years later, more than 4 million hectares had been destroyed by fire, twice the size of Wales, with annual losses roughly 9 times higher after 2016Millions of hectares of protected tropical forests were lost to wildfires between 2001 and 2024. Wildfire destruction inside protected area...
In the 1980s, the richest closed-canopy mangroves covered 77,643 sq km globally. 43 years later, they had grown to 88,772 sq km, helping turn decades of mangrove loss into a net global gainMangroves are far more than trees growing along tropical and subtropical shorelines. They form complex coastal ecosystems that provide habi...
In 2021, Cyprus submerged 93 sculptures to create an underwater forest; concrete trees rise from the seabed at different depthsAn underwater sculpture park in Cyprus offers a unique habitat for marine life. This art installation, MUSAN, features concrete figures and...
In 1804, Americans introduced "sacred bamboo" as a garden ornament; it spread across an estimated 22,400 forest acres, and its berries have been linked to bird deathsSacred bamboo, a popular ornamental shrub, has spread extensively into southern forests across America. Birds consuming its berries are vul...
In 1500s, Spanish explorers introduced pigs into North America. Now areas where they roam free have fewer invasive speciesAlthough wild pigs have long been viewed as destructive invasive species, recent findings reveal they also play a surprising role in curbin...