A forest in Maine

Forests as Fuel: Is Bioenergy Carbon Neutral?

Can using forest harvests for biofuel be carbon neutral? A case study of the Northern Forest appears to say "no."
Canopy gaps in a forest

Canopy Gaps Define Growth in the Forest

Gaps in the forest canopy can reveal important information, and result in regeneration.
Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities

Deforestation in areas where residents hunt and gather food can lead to malnutrition, food insecurity, and greater forest loss.
A green Oregon Oak covered in moss with many branches

What is Old Growth, and Why It Matters

Old growth forests are often famed for their beauty, cultural and historical significance. But there's more to old growth than just the age of the trees.
Roots and leaves

Why the Belowground Ecosystem Matters

Trees get all the credit. But for biodiversity, look down, too.
Oak tree

What Does a Tree See?

A hundred-year-old red oak in a Massachusetts forest told a writer and a team of scientists secrets about change over time.
Cattle in a forest

Silvopasture; Or, Why Are There Cows in the Woods?

Cattle grazing on invasive plants in longleaf pine forests could benefit ecosystems and farmers alike.
A dead tree in a forest

What Happens to a Tree When It Dies?

Decomposing trees on the forest floor become "dead wood"—a part of ecosystems that researchers are only beginning to understand.
Crown shyness

The Mysteries of Crown Shyness

In some forests, trees grow in a manner that keeps their branches from touching one another. Despite decades of study, scientists aren't exactly sure why.
Severely burnt forest after Grampians wildfire

How Eucalyptus Trees Stoke Wildfires

Eucalypts are now cosmopolitan, spread around the world through imperialism and globalization. Unfortunately, they're also highly flammable.