There’s an international flavor kicking off this week’s Forest Digest. Check it out!
- “US and China reach historic climate change deal, vow to cut emissions” — CNN
U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced both countries will curb their greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades. Under this agreement, the U.S. would cut its 2005 level of carbon emissions by 26-28 percent before the year 2025. China would peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and will also aim to get 20 percent of its energy from zero-carbon emission sources by the same year. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions said the joint announcement is “an extremely hopeful sign” and will help get other countries on board.
- “Obama, Putin plant trees at APEC summit” — The Washington Post
Heads of state from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies, including the U.S., Russia and China, attended a tree planting ceremony on Tuesday in Beijing. The symbolic presentation demonstrates each countries’ willingness to take the next step to work together on global environmental issues.
- “Peru’s forests store more CO2 than US emits in a year, research shows “ — The Guardian
New research shows Peru, the most accurately carbon-mapped country in the world, stores nearly seven billion metric tons of carbon stocks, which is more than U.S. carbon emissions in 2013, calculated at 5.38 billion tons. Most of Peru’s carbon storage occurs in its Amazon rainforest, the second-largest area of Amazon rainforest after Brazil.
- “Protecting native forests more valuable than logging” — Phys.org
New research has found mountain ash forests provide more value to the community and the global climate when protected and not logged. Known as ecosystem services, the results from research scientists at the Australian National University, show that protecting forests by ending logging could double the amount of carbon stored in trees. Scientific evidence also shows that natural disasters such as bushfires do not have as great an impact on carbon storage as harvesting the forest. These results are being presented at the World Parks Congress in Sydney this week.
- “Tree diseases can help forests: What’s bad for a seedling can be good for biodiversity” — Phys.org
University of Utah biologists found that pathogens that kill tree seedlings actually can make forests more diverse. Because seedlings of disease-sensitive tree species cannot survive in the wetter forests and drought-sensitive tree species cannot survive in the drier forests, different tree species inhabit the wetter and drier forests even though they are only 30 miles apart. In other words, tree pathogens contribute to the staggering diversity of trees in tropical forests.
- “Seeing the forest for the trees: H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest” — The Daily Barometer
Deep within the Willamette National Forest, researchers are changing the way forest ecology is understood and how forests are managed. The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is one of 80 experimental forests in the U.S., but one of only six Long-Term Ecology Research (LTER) sites in the nation. LTER sites are funded by the National Science Foundation. Sherri Johnson, a courtesy assistant research professor at Oregon State University and an ecologist for the U.S. Forest Service, states that the forest is special because you do not have to worry about logging and the effects of human activity.
- “Birch Water: Why This Health Drink Will Be Taking Over From Coconut Water In 2015” — Huffington Post UK
The trees in your local park could be the key to solving all your health and beauty problems. Birch extract has been used as an herbal remedy for centuries throughout the world. Many claim it to provide a plethora of health benefits, such as the aid for kidney function, reducing cholesterol and eliminating cellulite.