Category

Forestry

forest fire

Understanding how fire shapes plants will help protect them 

By | Forestry, News

Understanding how fire influences plant life is crucial for safeguarding biodiversity. By predicting plant responses to fire, scientists aid conservation efforts. Through traits like resprouting and seed germination, plants adapt to fire-prone ecosystems. With accurate predictions, land managers can plan controlled burns effectively, crucial as fire patterns evolve. Advancing fire-plant knowledge is key to future protection.

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The secret lives of roots: Tropical forest root systems are central to understanding the carbon stock change

By | Forestry, News

Tropical forest roots play a crucial role in climate change dynamics, yet they’re often overlooked. New research highlights the significance of understanding root function in tropical ecosystems. By integrating this knowledge into vegetation models, scientists aim to improve predictions of carbon stock changes, essential for mitigating climate impacts.

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Image: Leaf with herbivores. Credit: Lisa Hülsmann

Overcrowding increases tree mortality, perhaps explaining higher biodiversity in tropical forests

By | Forestry, News, Plant Science

New research reveals that tree mortality increases with overcrowding, especially in tropical forests. The study, involving 52 scientists worldwide, suggests specialized pathogens or herbivores as culprits. These findings shed light on why tropical forests harbor more species and underscore the importance of long-term forest studies for biodiversity conservation.

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Image: Section of the world map focussing on Africa. Many coloured dots mark the location and type of different forms of land use after deforestation. Credit: Screenshot of the App https://robertnag82.users.earthengine.app/view/africalu

Mapping how deforested land in Africa is used

By | Forestry, News

Africa’s forests, constituting 14% of global cover, face accelerating decline due to human-driven economic activities, impacting climate and biodiversity. A study provides high-resolution mapping of post-deforestation land use, aiding conservation efforts and supporting the EU’s Deforestation Regulation, crucial for sustainable resource management.

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