Art installation displays the consequences of climate change in NYC
American artist and activist Maya Lin’s newest work, erected in New York City’s Madison Square Park, is a compelling and provocative piece called Ghost Forest. The public installation, comprised of 49 Atlantic cedar trees that have perished due to rising sea levels and saltwater inundation, was Read More...
Forests as big as France have regenerated in the past 20 years
Good news from our planet’s reforestation endeavor! A new study has found that a forest area the size of France has regrown naturally across the world since 2000. As reported by the BBC, the restored forests have the potential to sequester the equivalent of 5.9 Gt of carbon dioxide — more than Read More...
This recognition program encourages cities to plant more trees
Planting more trees in urban areas is one of the best ways for cities to improve the wellbeing of their residents while also helping them tackle a growing number of challenges resulting from climate change. In an effort to encourage cities worldwide to green up their concrete-laden cityscapes, an Read More...
Bamboo bridge seeks to help reptiles cross over busy road
In the mountainous state of Uttarakhand in India, a bridge was built across a busy road that cuts through the forest. Not for humans or cars, but rather for reptiles and other small animals. The new “Eco Bridge” is 90 feet long and made from bamboo, jute, and grass. Local officials say Read More...
AI mapping tool shows cities exactly where they need to plant more trees
From boosting air quality to providing shade, there are many benefits that come with planting trees in urban neighborhoods. The only problem is that in many cities, trees are not equitably distributed amongst neighborhoods. To help ensure a more equal spread of the greens in cities, Google has Read More...
This is how trees make urban areas cooler
You might consider urban areas to be the epitome of cool, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, buildings, cars, pollution, and lack of soil, all contribute to an urban heat island effect, making cities considerably warmer than surrounding rural areas. Luckily, there is a Read More...
New tech taps into the movement of tree branches to generate electricity
Inspired by the continuous flows of energy found in nature, a recent project has proved that the natural movement of trees may offer a sustainable alternative to power our cities in the future. The concept, called anemokinetics, is based on the first law of thermodynamics, which states that Read More...
New data shows efforts to reverse deforestation worldwide might be working
Last year, the world lost trees covering more than 29 million acres, an area roughly the size of the entire state of Pennsylvania. It’s a painful statistic to read, but fortunately, there are also early signs that some efforts to stop business practices that drive deforestation might be working. Read More...
Philadelphia is planting trees to prevent premature deaths
We’ve talked a lot about the mental and physiological benefits of time outside. One U.S. city specifically is studying these benefits and taking action to improve the health of its residents. A study found that Philadelphia could prevent 400 premature adult deaths a year by increasing its tree Read More...
Wales plans to plant a new national forest running the length of the country
In the following years, the Welsh landscape is expected to benefit from a significant increase in forestry thanks to an ambitious government to plant a new national forest running the length and breadth of Wales. Backed by £15m ($18m) of woodland creation grants, the new fresh national forest Read More...