Find out the latest in forest news in this week’s Forest Digest!
- These colorful new maps reveal the hidden diversity of life in Peru’s Andean and Amazonian forests — Latimes.com
Scientists at Stanford University have created colorful maps that shed new light on Peru’s Andean and Amazonian forests and show that they are more diverse than previously thought. - More than 100 vineyards decimated in Chile’s ‘worst forest disaster’ in history — Chicagotribune.com
More than 100 vineyards in Maule, Chile have been damaged by historic forest fires that began more than a week ago and have scorched more than 300,000 acres of forest across the country. The U.S. is sending a group of experts and funds to replace equipment at Chile’s national forestry agency. - San Diego adopts urban forestry plan to boost tree canopy, slow climate change — Sandiegouniontribune.com
The San Diego City Council approved a five-year urban forestry plan that would increase the number of trees in San Diego neighborhoods. This will help the city meet the goals of its climate action plan, boost property values, improve air quality, enhance wildlife habitat and shrink energy costs by reducing the need for air conditioning. - Forests ‘held their breath’ during global warming hiatus, research shows — Phys.org
A new study revealed that during extended periods of slower warming, worldwide forests “breathe in” carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, but reduce the rate at which they “breathe out,” or release the gas back to the atmosphere. The study offers a significant breakthrough for future climate modeling, which is used to predict how ecosystems will respond to rising global temperatures.