Phys .org: Los Angeles and Google partner on ‘Tree Canopy’ project. “Los Angeles and Google have struck a partnership to track canopy density in the huge metropolis to determine which neighborhoods need more trees as a means of fighting extreme temperatures. Vegetation, notably tree canopy coverage, plays a key role in offering the kind of relief that Los Angeles needs: The city is the state’s biggest urban heat island thanks in no small part to thousands of miles of roads and parking spaces.”
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Lonely Planet: New online database tracks historic ‘witch marks’ carved into England’s trees
Lonely Planet: New online database tracks historic ‘witch marks’ carved into England’s trees. “A new online database has launched that allows users to browse more than 100 examples of graffiti etched on trees in the New Forest in England. The New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) has curated examples of symbols and writing on trees at the national park, some of which date back hundreds of years, including marks from those seeking protection from witches.”
Hindustan Times: Maharashtra gets India’s first wood anatomical database for mangrove tree species
Hindustan Times: Maharashtra gets India’s first wood anatomical database for mangrove tree species. “Maharashtra has become the first state in India to undertake forensic timber identification of mangrove tree species for enhanced conservation of the salt-tolerant coastal trees. The Institute of Wood Sciences and Technology (IWST), Bengaluru, has come up with a first-of-its-kind study for developing an inventory of wood anatomy of mangrove species along the Maharashtra coast.”
The Business Journals: European search engine teams up with BU to plant trees
The Business Journals: European search engine teams up with BU to plant trees. “Ecosia is a Berlin-based search engine company that reinvests more than 80 percent of its search ad revenue into tree-planting projects around the world. Currently, the company plants one tree per 50 searches. Now, Ecosia is gearing up its presence in Boston. The company’s Ecosia On Campus initiative, in partnership with Boston University (BU) and run by Christopher Park, is a grassroots movement that aims to make Ecosia the default browser on university campuses worldwide.”
Fast Company: This tool is mapping every tree in California to help stop megafires
Fast Company: This tool is mapping every tree in California to help stop megafires. “If you zoom in on a new map of California, you’ll start to see that the fields of green that represent the forest are actually made up of individual green points, and each point represents a real, individual tree. The tool, called the California Forest Observatory, uses AI and satellite images to create an ultradetailed view of the state’s forests—aiding work to prevent the type of catastrophic megafires that the state is experiencing now.”
Mashable: The interactive fall foliage map is back to help you plan your autumn road trip
Mashable: The interactive fall foliage map is back to help you plan your autumn road trip. “If you’ve never used the annual interactive tool before, you’re in for a real treat. This year’s map begins on Sept. 7, a day when minimal and patchy foliage is predicted in only a few states. The map concludes on Nov. 23, when nearly the entire country will be be past-peak foliage.”
Mother Jones: How Trees Can Help Us Fight a Pandemic
Mother Jones: How Trees Can Help Us Fight a Pandemic. “As the world grapples with the devastation of the coronavirus, one thing is clear: The United States simply wasn’t prepared. Despite repeated warnings from infectious disease experts over the years, we lacked essential beds, equipment, and medication; public health advice was confusing, and our leadership offered no clear direction while sidelining credible health professionals and institutions. Infectious disease experts agree that it’s only a matter of time before the next pandemic hits, and that could be even deadlier. How do we fix what COVID-19 has shown was broken? In this Mother Jones series, we’re asking experts from a wide range of disciplines one question: What are the most important steps we can take to make sure we’re better prepared next time?”
Quad-City Times: Illinois’ big trees are on the map
Quad-City Times: Illinois’ big trees are on the map. “From the depths of the Shawnee National Forest to backyards in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois’ biggest trees are branching out. For the first time, the state’s champion trees are now available as an interactive digital map.” Never heard of champion trees? Check this out.
Ecosia: Green search engine plants 100 million trees! (Newsum)
Newsum: Ecosia: Green search engine plants 100 million trees!. “Ecosia, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, is a green search engine. It works in a very interesting manner – it uses the profit that it makes to make the world a better and a greener place. And what does that mean? Ecosia uses all the profits from user searches to plant trees where they are most needed! And recently, Ecosia hit a massive milestone. It successfully planted 100 million trees across the world. This would help remove around 1771 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!”
Neowin: Chrome adds Ecosia as search provider option in 47 countries
Neowin: Chrome adds Ecosia as search provider option in 47 countries. “Ecosia has announced that Chrome users will be able to switch to its search engine in an upcoming update to the mobile edition of the browser. Ecosia, which plants trees after every 45 searches, will feature alongside Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Yahoo! as a pre-configured search provider.”
India Times: Over 100 names added to database of heritage trees
India Times: Over 100 names added to database of heritage trees. “Paryavaran Sena, a non-profit organisation dedicated to environment protection, has begun compiling data of more than 100 heritage trees that it has identified for preservation. All the heritage trees identified are banyan and peepal trees, and are more than 100 years old.”
Commonwealth Journals: New Tool For Identifying Pests of Woody Plants
Commonwealth Journal: New Tool For Identifying Pests of Woody Plants. “The University of Kentucky Department of Entomology has created a new, interactive website to help concerned tree owners identify their insect problems. The ‘Guide to Insect Pests of Woody Plants’ will hopefully be of use to you if you have the pest in hand or if you just have the damage they left behind.”
Government News (Australia): Shade mapping tool helps pedestrians dodge heat
Government News (Australia): Shade mapping tool helps pedestrians dodge heat. “With the mercury recently hitting 45C in Bendigo, Council has adopted a new tool which helps residents seek out routes with the most shade coverage and avoid the heat. The Shadeways tool, developed by researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, uses satellite imagery to generate a ‘temperature likelihood’ monitor. By analysing surfaces and vegetation type, it creates an urban heat map and generates suggested shaded routes.”
Engadget: YouTubers have raised $20 million to plant 20 million trees
Engadget: YouTubers have raised $20 million to plant 20 million trees. “A few months ago, some of the top YouTubers like Jimmy ‘MrBeast’ Donaldson and former NASA engineer Mark Rober launched the TeamTrees campaign. The initiative aimed to raise $20 million dollars, which would allow the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 20 million trees. The goal seemed a bit lofty, but the campaign reached its goal with over a week to spare before the self-imposed December 31st deadline.”
Northern Arizona University: Oak tree tells its own climate stories on Twitter, Facebook with help of NAU, CCC researchers
Northern Arizona University: Oak tree tells its own climate stories on Twitter, Facebook with help of NAU, CCC researchers. “As oak leaves rattle and pool beneath trees in Arizona’s high country, one 100-year-old oak tree in Massachusetts is attracting a crowd of admirers online thanks to the work of NAU researchers and a Coconino Community College student. The tree is a scientific wonder—not because of its unique looks or a special way it grows, but because of its voice.”