Find out the latest in forestry news in this week’s Forest Digest!

• Indonesia’s forest fires threaten a third of world’s wild orangutans — The Guardian
  Recent satellite images have revealed that, since July, several thousand fires have reached Indonesia’s national parks and primary forests, threatening nearly one-third of the world’s population of wild orangutans, as well as other endangered species.
• Saving a Rare Tree Worlds Away — The New York Times
  Botanists’ efforts to save a rare tree species, Betula chichibuensis, a birch native to Japan, offers a glimpse of hope for a species that, two decades ago, only had 21 remaining trees in the wild.
• Researchers analyze the benefits of urban trees — Phys.org
  While the many environmental and health benefits of urban trees are known, researchers are getting citizens involved in documenting city trees’ impact on the conservation of water.
• Planting Trees May Boost Riverbed Animals’ Ability To Fight Climate Change, Researchers Say — Nature World News
  A recent study revealed that strategically planting trees near riverbeds can improve river ecosystems’ resiliency by providing not only temperature control but also vital food sources for aquatic insects, which impacts a host of other species.