Find out the latest in forest news in this week’s Forest Digest!
- Trump Will Withdraw U.S. From Paris Climate Agreement – The New York Times
Bad news for our climate. On June 1, President Trump announced his decision to withdraw the U.S. — the world’s second-largest polluter — from the Paris Climate Agreement, based on his belief that the pact “imposed wildly unfair environmental standards on American businesses and workers.” - Raising the Green Roof: Why More Big-City Businesses are Putting Plants up Top – Forbes
Talk about going green — providing a sanctuary for wildlife, preventing runoff spilling into rivers, and reducing energy consumption, “green roofs” are now all the rage in cities like New York and Washington, D.C., and where sun-soaked, asphalt-topped buildings are rapidly being converted to grass- and shrub-covered oases. - A tree-killing insect that has devastated eastern forests is confirmed in Charlotte – The Charlotte Observer
When the invasive emerald ash borer appeared in North Carolina in 2013, experts knew it was only a matter of time until it found its way to Charlotte. There are an estimated 1,300 ash trees lining Charlotte’s streets, making the city’s canopy particularly vulnerable to attack. - Phoenix’s urban forest is shrinking – and residents say it’s time to change that – AZ Central
Bring back the trees! With Phoenix’s urban forest shrinking at a steady rate due to monsoon storms, accidents, and limited funds to replace lost trees, public demand for city officials to reinvest in the city’s greenery is growing rapidly. - City trees are dying early because they are struggling to sleep due to streetlights – The Telegraph
Insomniac trees? Forester Peter Wohlleben warns that trees aren’t so different from us when it comes to needing darkness at night, claiming that trees’ circadian rhythms are significantly disrupted by light pollution in urban areas.