Climate

Gov't shifting climate forest experiments to focus on soil

smccreary — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:30:42 -0500

A research project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy is being shut down, according to a recent Associated press article. Scientists working on a decade-long project testing how forests will respond to global warming in the next 50 years have been told to chop down the trees, collect the data and move on to new research.

Predicting climate change on Walden Pond

smccreary — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:52:23 -0400

Researchers at Boston University and Harvard are using Henry David Thoreau's notes from the 1850s to discern patterns of plant abundance and decline in Concord - and by extension, New England - and to link those patterns to changing climate.

E.U. officials draw line on forest credits

smccreary — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:50:26 -0400

Last week the European Commission - which already oversees the world's largest market for trading permits to emit carbon dioxide - seemed to say that there are limits to putting a price on trees, water and animals, and then creating markets for these goods. The commission rejected the idea of accepting “credits” generated by projects to stop the permanent destruction of forests and woodlands until 2020 at the earliest.

The true economic worth of trees isn't recognized

smccreary — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:47:05 -0400

An editorial in the Christian Science Monitor says that "some means of recognizing the true economic and environmental value of the world's forests still must be found" to slow deforestation and preserve the vital ecosystem services they provide.

Climate change factors into conservationist buys

smccreary — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:08:26 -0400

From USA Today: Climate change is prompting some conservation groups to adjust their strategy for buying lands, factoring in evidence that global warming is altering the migration of species, reconfiguring coastlines and transforming natural habitats.

Mountain pine-beetle kill alters climate

smccreary — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:07:06 -0400

Scientists from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder are studying whether mountain pine beetle kill is altering the very climate of the Rocky Mountain forests - from temperature to rainfall to air quality.

Computer models estimate impact of climate change on Ozarks

smccreary — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:58:19 -0400

The vastly forested Ozarks region is the subject of computer model analysis over the effects of climate change. Forecasts range in their predictions: one suggests that the oak and hickory that dominate the forest will be replaced by pines, while another says the forest could evolve into savanna or even grassland.

Old forests may be better at sequestration than previously thought

smccreary — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:55:43 -0400

Findings in a new study published in the latest issue of Nature challenge the long-held assumption that trees older than 150 years are "carbon neutral" and not as effective as absorbing greenhouse gas as their younger siblings. Research from a group of forest scientists from the U.S. and Europe found that most forests between 15 and 800 years old store more carbon dioxide than they release, and the total amounts to about 10 percent of the net carbon uptake worldwide.

Trees kill odors and other poultry farm emissions, study says

smccreary — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:16:28 -0400

Planting rows of trees around poultry farms can cut emissions of dust, ammonia, and odors from poultry houses and aid in reducing neighbor complaints, according to scientists from the University of Delaware. Planting vegetation could reduce ammonia and particulates that may degrade surrounding air and water quality, as well as provide farms with the added benefit of reducing energy consumption.

Cap-and-trade plan proposed by Western Climate Initiative

smccreary — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:11:51 -0400

The Western Climate Initiative has released a draft strategy to "cap and trade" releases of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases by 2010. The plan allows for polluters to pay for offsets to compensate for emissions. Forestry is identified as a key area for offsets, specifically for saving and planting trees. Supporters see the plan as a model for a national strategy once President Bush leaves the White House.