Forests Are Reeling From Climate Change—but the Future Isn’t Lost

Taylor’s law predicts unprecedented pulses of forest disturbance under global change

Climate extremes are causing increasingly large pulses of forest disturbance across biomes, raising concerns that forests are pushed beyond their safe operating space. However, predicting future disturbance pulses remains a major challenge, as these events are stochastic and driven by complex ecological and socio-economic processes. Here, we provide a tractable solution to this problem using Taylor’s law, which predicts changes in variability (a…

Rainforest deaths are surging and scientists just found the shocking cause

Tropical trees are dying faster than ever, and it's not just heat or drought to blame. Scientists have uncovered a surprising culprit: ordinary thunderstorms. These quick, fierce storms, powered by climate change, are toppling trees with intense winds and lightning, sometimes causing more damage than drought itself. The discovery is reshaping how we understand rainforest health and carbon storage, as storms may be responsible for up to 60% of tr…

Forests are reeling from climate change—but the future isn’t lost

Heat, drought, and bug infestations are killing trees worldwide. If we change course now, we can limit the damage.

Biodiversity - our strongest natural defense against climate change

Biological diversity — or biodiversity — is the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms, from genes and bacteria to entire ecosystems such as forests or coral reefs. The biodiversity we see today is the result of 4.5 billion years of evolution, increasingly influenced by humans. Biodiversity forms the web of life that we depend on for so many things – food, water, medicine, a stable climate, economic growth, among others. Over half of global …

Tree Diversity Boosts Global Ecosystem Photosynthesis

In an era defined by rapid environmental change and escalating climate crises, understanding the intricate dynamics that sustain forest ecosystems has never been more critical. Forests not only serve as carbon sinks but also harbor immense biodiversity, which collectively drives the planet’s ecological resilience. A groundbreaking global study now illuminates the profound connection between tree […]

Forests lagging behind in adapting to climate change, new study finds

Forests cover a staggering 31 per cent of the world’s land. Image: Shutterstock Research suggests productivity and health of trees across the world may be at risk as climate change continues to wreak havoc By Victoria Heath It is estimated that one large tree can provide enough oxygen to sustain the lives of four humans for a day. Found on every single continent – excluding Antarctica – trees are an invaluable resource as carbon stores, regulato…