Forest News

• Scientists fear new EU rules may ‘hide’ forest carbon loss – BBC News
  Researchers are fighting back against proposed changes to the way carbon contained in trees is accounted for in Europe. Several countries, including Austria, Finland, Poland and Sweden, have made clear their plans for increased deforestation in the near future, and are suggesting that the heightened loss of carbon as a result of this should not count toward each country’s overall emissions.
• This new disease could devastate our wildlife – The Guardian
  A new disease with origins in South America, called Xyella fastidiosa, is now spreading across Europe, threatening oak, elm, ash, cherry, sycamore and plane trees. Urban trees appear to be particularly susceptible to infection. Many vineyards and fruit farms in the Americas have also been affected, and thus far, there is no known cure.
• To Fight Climate Change, Fitchburg Resident Will Pay City $50K to Preserve Trees – WBUR.org
  Environmental scientist and resident of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Ralph Baker, offered to pay the city a whopping $50,000 in exchange for the council’s promise to “leave 205 acres of city-owned forested land untouched for the next 30 years.” This bold and brilliant decision is one that Baker says will ultimately help fight climate change.”
• Environmentalists win in court over gas drilling in forests – TRIB Live
  Environmentalists in Pennsylvania, rejoice! A new Pennsylvania court decision regarding the use of public natural resources “could make it more difficult to lease state forests for oil and gas drilling, and could force governments to be more careful about allowing development that would damage public lands, wildlife, groundwater, rivers and air quality.”

What’s New at American Forests?

• Budget cuts threaten forests’ roads, hunting, fishing – McClatchy DC
  This article features our very own Rebecca Turner, chief strategy officer, and her shared expertise regarding federal budget cuts which significantly affect national forests and their maintenance. She says, “When you can’t access the forests, it’s much harder to enjoy them.”
• Restoring the Restoration: Refuge Gives Wildlife Habitat New Life – WBOI.org
  This piece highlights our partner organization, Alcoa Foundation, and its joint efforts with American Forests to make positive habitat management and forest restoration efforts in southern Indiana.