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The Trump administration’s Elon Musk-backed government efficiency team promised to eliminate waste throughout government
The Department of Government Efficiency has instituted new layers of review at USFS, as it has at most federal agencies
Processes that typically took minutes are now taking a month or longer and a wide range of functions are feeling the impact
that has led to trash piling up and pit toilets—restrooms that include only holes in the ground
as is common as Forest Service recreational centers and campgrounds—going uncleaned or unemptied
Getting a contract approved for janitorial services
said one USFS who works on those procurements
With the added layers that DOGE has installed
“You’ve got this biohazard,” the employee said
adding any cleaning that is happening occurs by employees “in their 70s with power washers that they bought with their own money so they don’t have to scrape poop off the wall.”
The campgrounds often attract people who are dealing with mental health crises or using drugs and employees said such misplaced feces is a common occurrence
Employees like secretaries or recreation technicians
whose job descriptions make no mention of janitorial services
are being asked to do such cleaning without the proper equipment to do so
Given the cuts DOGE has already implemented at the Forest Service
employees are in some cases too fearful to reject the assignments
Another employee noted her National Forest is already seeing changes to who provides services such as mowing and cleaning
DOGE has overseen the revocation of purchase cards at USFS
making it harder to pay for incidental costs
“Leadership has no answers when the issue is brought up
including the issue with the ability to pump toilets at rec sites,” that employee said
adding the message is to “make do with what you have and make it last.”
Some of the issues predate the DOGE and the Trump administration: under President Biden
funding cuts forced some forests to go from three visits from contracted custodians down to one
But as funding restrictions have grown more severe
employees said they do not always have capacity to clean internally and leadership has discussed having to shut down some recreational sites for the year
President Trump proposed slashing USFS operations and National Forest management funding by nearly $800 million as it refocuses away from recreational services toward timber sales
USFS has sought to slash employees by firing thousands of newly hired staff still in their probationary employees (who have since been hired back under a now-paused court order) and through offers of early retirement and deferred resignation
is also expected to issue widespread layoffs in the coming weeks
employees who work on wildland fire management are being pulled into cleaning duties
They are also working on issues ranging from marking trees for timber sales—Trump has issued an executive order calling for increased timber production
which led USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to announce USFS will boost logging by 25% and make 43 million acres
available for that purpose—to culling invasive frogs
One employee said the non-fire team as his location has lost 40% of its staffing
meaning firefighters are now doing the alternative work
They will pivot back to fire-related roles as needed
but that will leave the other work they are currently doing unattended
The employee said his team is not currently doing prescribed burns that the agency typically conducts
The multi-function roles for firefighters was standard practice 30 years ago
but such an approach is not sustainable given the intensified threat of fires that climate change has wrought
“They don’t have a contingency plan if it fails to work,” one employee said of leadership’s plans
Another Forest Service employee who works in contracting said that even a modification of an existing contract
goes to the General Services Administration and DOGE for approval
What previously took a maximum of 15 minutes now takes about a month to get money out the door
a "requisitioner" establishes what is needed
the budget office approves the use of the funds
a contract coordinator conducts a review before this employee approves the solicitation going out
A new layer of review within USFS then conducts an extra review
The process essentially repeats itself when bids come in to select the best proposal
DOGE personnel can either accept or reject the contract
Another contracting officer said the process for getting procurements approved has changed 15 times since Trump took office
The employee said DOGE has denied funding to continue using “sniffers”—a device that measures air quality to detect smoke or other pollutants
It has also eliminated support for a platform that agency firefighters use to get equipment
and for devices that track which of those supplies USFS has in stock
The Trump administration has sought to put sweeping freezes on federal spending
but those efforts have largely been blocked in court
One contracting employee suggested the contracting restrictions were having the same effect: by making funding so difficult to obligate
it has essentially blocked congressionally appropriated funds from being expended
The contracting employee said leadership has expressed that any purchasing related to firefighting will be greenlit
but that has not been the case in practice
“It’s kind of like they’re talking out of both ends of their mouth,” he said
“‘We’re all about fire and safety but we’re not supporting fire and safety.’”
Employees largely expressed confidence those in the fire division currently working on other tasks will pivot back as needed
Those employees have so far been shielded from cuts and are not expected to be subject to forthcoming layoffs
are trained to assist in emergencies that arise in peak fire season—typically late spring through the summer—and make up the “militia” that deploy as needed
Several employees expressed concern that those reserves have been diminished as a result of the agency’s cuts
“I think that we'll get along but it is my suspicion that this agency is far closer to operational collapse than ever before,” one USFS firefighter said
The contracting issues have been felt across government as DOGE has tightened its grip on all spending. It has paraded its often questioned savings and repeatedly highlighted the contracts it has slashed
officials have taken a new approach of limiting the number of employees who can access the EPA Acquisition System to just 500
The cuts will have significant impacts on how EPA does its purchasing
At the Office of Transportation and Air Quality
the division will go from more than 50 licenses down to 10
The web-based system serves as a centralized platform for conducting acquisitions throughout the lifecycle of the procurement
One EPA employee impacted by the change suggested the limitations could lead to work stoppages
less internal control review and illegal procurements
Individual workers could be held liable in such a scenario
EPA offices will have less ability to share information and employees may have to create a new acquisition system from scratch after being barred from using the existing one
The change will affect a wide range of EPA activity
Employees will face limitations on submitting purchase requests
adding funding to existing contracts and even deobligating funding on problematic contracts
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Murillo cancelled out Eberechi Eze’s penalty but Forest dropped points in their hunt for the Champions League
9h ago23.11 CESTThis is the xG of the game, evidence of how poor Forest were tonight.
9h ago23.08 CESTThat is what the 1-1 result does to the Premier League table. Newcastle and Chelsea now have a two-point cushion over Forest, who remain in sixth.
Murillo’s injury will be a worry. The Brazilian went off with a hamstring injury. I wonder if that is the defender’s season done.
9h ago23.02 CESTFull-time: Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham ForestDisappointment for Forest in their race for the top five.
9h ago23.01 CEST90+12 min: The air has gone out of the game, which is a real shame for the neutral. Forest will be thankful, though.
9h ago22.59 CEST90+10 min: Milenkovic is back on, with some cotton wool shoved up his nostrils. I think those stoppages have helped Forest as Palace’s momentum has completely stalled.
“So infuriating when the ref’s comms goes down and we have to do that endless sleeve rolling, tucking something in, roll up, roll down,” emails Hugh Molloy. “I can I understood it halfway through a game, but if it goes with 80 mins plus on the clock, then just crack on. If we desperately need VAR then fix it then, otherwise just ruins the crescendo of a game. Rant over.”
Updated at 23.00 CEST9h ago22.57 CEST90+8 min: Another delay as Milenkovic gets some treatment for a bloody face. The Forest defender clashed with his own goalkeeper at that corner. I think we’re going to have more than the eight minutes given for stoppage time.
9h ago22.56 CEST90+6 min: Palace are the only team looking to win this football match. Munoz sends in a searching low cross across Forest’s six-yard box, palmed clear by Sels, and from the resulting corner, Hughes tries a lob over the Forest goalkeeper … just over!
9h ago22.54 CEST90+4 min: There’s a brief delay as the linesman’s audio headset is given some sort of fix. Not sure what the problem was there.
9h ago22.53 CESTPALACE GOAL DISALLOWED!90+2 min: Palace are again so close to a winner
Eze again wriggles into some space and gets a shot off through a crowd of bodies
Nketiah sticks out a boot and diverts a finish into the net
but replays show the former Arsenal striker was a yard off
10h ago22.49 CESTEZE HITS THE BAR FOR PALACE!88 min: Palace inches from that winner
as Eze cuts inside from the left and curls a beautiful shot over Sels towards the top corner
but the ball doesn’t quite dip under the bar
kissing the upright before going behind for a Forest goal kick
10h ago22.46 CEST84 min: Big chance for Palace and Lacroix! A cross is deflected to the big Frenchman at the far post, but Lacroix can’t adjust his feet in time and misdirects a header over the bar. It looked easier to score, despite the close attention of Williams.
10h ago22.45 CEST83 min: More bookings! Forest pair Aina and Yates are cautioned for two tackles in the same move.
10h ago22.43 CEST81 min: Palace stream forward against the depleted visitors. Nketiah breaks the offside trap and goes clean through, but shoots wildly from an acute angle when he might have been better off squaring the ball to a teammate.
Morata is finally allowed on as Forest return to 11 men. That would have been a real controversy if Nketiah had scored with the visitors down to 10.
10h ago22.40 CEST80 min: Bad news for Forest, Murillo has pulled his hamstring. The Brazilian is going to have to go off and leaves the field of play. His compatriot Morata is being readied but Eze takes a free-kick and the referee allows play to continue. Forest are briefly down to 10 men!
10h ago22.38 CEST78 min: Having failed to send Sangaré off, referee Andrew Madley sets about trying to book as many other players as he can. Both Palace’s Kamada and Forest’s Gibbs-White are cautioned for tackles.
10h ago22.36 CEST76 min: Forest manager Nuno knows Sangare is walking a tightrope now, so brings off his midfielder. Yates is on.
Palace also make a change: Nketiah for Mateta.
Updated at 22.41 CEST10h ago22.36 CEST75 min: Eze nutmegs Sangaré in midfield and is bodychecked by the Ivorian, who is already on a yellow card. The referee opts not to dish out a second booking, much to the groans of the home fans. That was right on the edge, I think it was probably the right decision, but only just.
10h ago22.33 CEST74 min: Not the first time today, Sarr strides away on a Palace counter attack, only to be felled by the nearest Forest player. Williams goes into the book.
10h ago22.32 CEST72 min: This game could go either way. Neither team is dominant.
Guéhi looks like he’s struggling with a knock. The Palace captain was limping a few moment ago.
10h ago22.29 CEST70 min: Re my question over Sangare, a few of you have kindly been in touch to explain.
“Sangare was out injured for the first part of the season and then looked short of match fitness on his return in early February (I think),” emails Martin Widdicks. “He played in a few of the FA Cup games but it looked like Nuno didn’t trust his fitness and he was below Yates and Dominguez for the defensive midfielder spot. Fans seem to have mixed feelings towards him, some think he’s wonderful and should start, others think he flatters to deceive.”
“Record buy at £30 million at the beginning of last season but he’s been injured, at Afcon, sick, and injured at various stages throughout the past two seasons,” adds Simon Frank. “Seems he’s now fifth choice for centre midfield but a lot of us Forest fans still think there’s time for him to establish himself.”
10h ago22.27 CEST68 min: Yellow card for Sangare, who clumsily catches Eze in midfield. That has been coming.
10h ago22.27 CEST67 min: Nicolas Dominguez comes off for Ramon Sosa, in a change that looks like was planned before the Forest goal.
10h ago22.26 CESTGOAL
Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Murillo 65)Forest hit straight back
the ball comes out to Williams on the edge
but Murillo deflects it beautifully with the outside of his foot
10h ago22.22 CEST62 min: That could be a crucial goal in Forest’s race for the Champions League. Those from City, Newcastle, Chelsea and Villa will have watched that Eze penalty with glee.
Worryingly for Palace, Wharton has had to be withdrawn. I think he took a knock in the build-up to that penalty. Will Hughes is on, a straight swap in the middle.
10h ago22.20 CESTGOAL
Crystal Palace 1-0 Nottingham Forest (Eze pen 60)It’s a stuttering unorthodox run up from Eze but the Palace playmaker sweeps his spot kick to Sels’ right into the corner
The Forest keeper guessed right but couldn’t get there
The Palace left-back beats both Dominguez and Sels to the ball and is bundled and tripped by both
referee Andrew Madley doesn’t give the blatant penalty on the pitch
but VAR intervenes and the spot kick is given
10h ago22.14 CEST51 min: I could listen to Don Goodman, Sky Sports’ bizarre choice as co-commentator this evening say “the left calf of Lacroix” all night.
10h ago22.11 CEST49 min: Right on cue, Palace spring into life. The ball breaks to Sarr on the edge of Forest’s box and the Senegalese wriggles away from his markers, only for Sels to make a brilliant save, spreading himself Schmeichel-style! How many times has the Belgian done that this season?
Updated at 22.17 CEST10h ago22.08 CEST47 min: In what could be a very meme-able video clip, Glasner looks very perplexed at his side’s start to the second half. The Austrian is waving his arms around manically, his face a picture of curiosity and concern. Palace have not played well.
10h ago22.04 CESTPeeeeeeeep!Eze has just taken the Palace kick-off so I can confirm he is still on the pitch.
11h ago21.49 CESTHalf-time reading:
Corumbá the puma was named after a river in the central Brazilian state of Goiás
as much of the world was locked down by the COVID-19 pandemic
Corumbá embarked on an epic journey through the state
he crossed different fragments of vegetation
He stayed at PESCAN for a period before moving on
Corumbá walked more than 120 kilometers (75 miles) during the 11 months that he was monitored by a GPS radio-transmitter collar
when the transmitter’s battery died and the collar released itself from around Corumbá’s neck
“[The cat] moved beautifully in the landscape, and we identified the fragments that he traveled through between the two parks,” says biologist Fernanda Cavalcanti de Azevedo, executive coordinator of the Mammals of the Cerrado Conservation Program (PCMC), which is connected to the Federal University of Catalão (UFCAT) in Goiás
“This enabled us to attribute a level of priority for the conservation of these specific regions because the puma acted as our ‘tool,’ showing us which areas they are.”
In this part of Brazil, pumas go by a number of names: leão-baio, suçuarana and onça-parda. The predator sits atop Brazil’s immensely rich food chain, alongside the jaguar (Panthera onca), another species considered endangered in central Brazil
The Suçuaranas Detetives project was created when two independent but related projects linked to the PCMC came together: Ecological Detectives
a research project that began in 2020 to generate data on the puma’s ecology; and Backyard Suçuaranas
which came two years later to study issues related to human-wildlife interactions in the regions surrounding the protected areas
These projects are the result of a collaboration between PCMC and the Goiás state environmental agency
“We needed to understand how certain key species were using the territory — not only the conservation units but also the regions surrounding them — and the relationships between wildlife and humans,” says Maurício Vianna Tambellini
a SEMAD official who coordinates both the PEMA and PESCAN parks
“We already had data from monitoring pumas
we chose them because pumas are an animal that needs a lot of territory
we were able to better understand the species and create a management target for the conservation unit that would guarantee the cat’s survival.”
During the very first conversation Tambellini had with the PCMC team
the idea was born to create a project that would involve both state parks and thus encompass both the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes in the state of Goiás
It would allow for recent puma sightings to be analyzed within the context of the two different ecosystems
transforming the species’ physical movement into a “compass” that would help define the most important zones for environmental protection
There’s a scientific basis behind the idea of using a species as a conservation tool: the main goal is to reinforce research for a potential ecological corridor in the 80-km (50-mi) stretch between PEMA and PESCAN
it will seek to recuperate this region by planting native tree species in both biomes
compensating rural landowners for their participation
The goal is to ensure that pumas and other native species in the region can safely travel through the corridor
Before the pumas can become “ecological detectives,” their routes and habits in the region must be understood
Experts installed camera traps inside both parks and took expeditions to collect data on signals like paw prints and scratch marks
The field studies also collected biological material like the animals’ feces and carcasses of their prey in order to learn what the pumas eat
some of the pumas were captured and fitted with GPS collars so their movements could be mapped
The three capture campaigns carried out so far were inside PEMA. In 2022, experts captured two male pumas that they named Corumbá and Pema (after the park). Both animals were monitored for a year
which is as long as the tracking collars work
The only puma still being monitored in 2024 was a female named Vulcanis
her wanderings cover territory that extends beyond the park limits
Vulcanis walked far enough to cross the Corumbá River
which lies dozens of kilometers to the north
giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
Cavalcanti also points to the reproductive habits of female pumas
known for their ability to mate with different males during their fertility period
the females avoid territories dominated by males to keep their young out of danger
“The camera traps photographed more males than females
but that doesn’t mean there are more of them
The females just avoid confrontations with the males to protect their young,” Cavalcanti says
a male may kill a cub that’s the progeny of another male
Aside from the social interactions that occur during mating season
the male leaves to patrol his territory and defend it from other males
goes on to give birth to a litter of one to four cubs and proceeds to care for them by herself during their first year of life
The young males leave their mothers at a younger age than young females
This behavior explains why more young males meet their end as roadkill than young females
animals fleeing the flames embark on new routes
“The wildcats use open areas modified [by human activities
like highways] to cross from one fragment to another,” Cavalcanti says
“These animals live in areas with vegetative covering like uncleared pasture with many bushes or forest where they can hide
pumas need a place to crouch and hide before they kill their prey.”
the range that these cats need to live can vary in size
the average size of territory for each puma was 210 square kilometers (80 square miles) for each monitored individual
But the region that Corumbá covered in southwestern Goiás was nearly 10 times larger
Pema was the champion in terms of area covered per month
while Vulcanis was the most reserved in her wanderings
an area similar to that covered by the cats monitored in Minas Gerais state
At least 15 pumas have been identified in PEMA and PESCAN since the project was launched
this is cause for celebration since these wildcats are rare here
these state parks share several species of wildlife
tayras (Eira barbara) and maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
PEMA is also home to otters (Lontra longicaudis) and tapirs (Tapirus terrestris)
together with jaguars and bush dogs (Speothos venaticus)
“It is amazing that a park measuring less than [10 km2
or 4 mi2] like PEMA can be home to nearly all the carnivores we know in the transition region between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest,” says Frederico Gemesio Lemos
maned wolves and hoary foxes have also been sighted inside Terra Ronca State Park (PETER)
the third conservation unit to join the Suçuaranas Detetives project since 2024
PETER is home to what’s believed to be one of the largest cave complexes in Latin America
Within its 570 km2 (220 mi2) are more than 300 caves
and a rich diversity of Cerrado fauna including the endemic Pfrimer’s parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri)
Capture activities inside PETER and PESCAN may begin within the next year
The team has already traveled to PETER to install camera traps
and speak with community members living there
“We hope this project will help people to gain a new perspective on the park and its fauna and flora,” says Wesley de Andrade
“We hope they will learn to understand the place inside out as a managed conservation unit.” He adds it’s important to involve the local community in the work to protect species
The park is part of a mosaic of conservation units abutting Terra Ronca Recanto das Araras Extractive Reserve
and is part of the wider Serra Geral de Goiás Environmental Protection Area
“A conservation unit’s greatest challenge is to deal with conflicts and transform them into green business opportunities for the state and for the community,” Andrade says
Since the current administrators began bringing projects to the park and involving the people who live there
they’ve been able to generate income by paying freelancers and hiring park employees
He points out that this has helped some people associate protecting the environment with financial gain and quality of life; today
some of the older community members who used to hunt and carry out illegal logging are working and see themselves as park “guardians.”
Cavalcanti says that species conservation won’t happen without human intervention
Most of the projects came into being with this objective
and it’s the foundation for the Suçuaranas Detetives project
We are collecting ecological data to be able to understand what the species need and then work together with the community to propose strategies and tools that will minimize the impacts [on nature].”
This cooperation between the team of experts and the community is paying off as hoped
The project team is composed of three researchers who live in Água Limpa municipality
which means they interact with the community daily
a PCMC biologist working on human-wildlife coexistence
says local recognition of the pumas seems to have improved since the project came into being
but today people feel like they have a connection with these animals
They talk about ‘the puma ladies’ and the ‘friends of the pumas.’ On many occasions people spontaneously ask questions about them
Ferreira says that evaluating the changes in people’s perceptions about the animals is complex
because the way they thought before the projects began must be considered
followed by the creation of targets and indicators for activities and monitoring
the team went door to door in rural communities with questionnaires to evaluate people’s attitudes
“What we want to know now is whether all this has brought about any change in attitude about killing wildcats and larger environmental questions
We especially want to hear what people active in the region think and want in terms of conservation and coexistence with the region’s biodiversity,” Ferreira says
One thing they expect in the coming years is to co-develop an action plan that incorporates discussions on coexistence and biodiversity conservation in the regions where the project is operating
Interviews and workshops focused on the data revealed by the original surveys will be held in the first phase
along with other topics like interaction with wildlife to find out if there have been any changes in opinion among the locals on the issue
When Pema the puma was captured in PEMA the park
the researchers realized that he’d already been seen on the Raposinha do Pontal Project’s cameras in Corumbaíba
where he fathered at least one litter of cubs
“Could he have been killed?” was the question that echoed among the monitoring team
Pema appeared in a social media reel posted by a farmer in Pontal
Pema returned to the park he was named after
Predators at the top of the food chain are indicators of a healthy ecosystem
and with respect and good neighborly conduct
This story was first published here in Portuguese on April 9
Cavalcanti de Azevedo, F. (2017). Ecologia da onça-parda: Interações de um predador de topo em um agroecossistema (Doctoral dissertation, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil). Retrieved from https://locus.ufv.br/items/214846fa-c855-43c9-bdff-d133ffeb494c
The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa
as protected areas become battlegrounds over history
and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss
Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins
and trying to forge a path forward […]
As the newest Biomass satellite begins its journey in orbit following its launch on April 29
it brings fresh momentum to efforts aimed at understanding how forests shape our climate
A newly released dataset – built from nearly two decades of satellite data – offers the clearest
most detailed view to date of how much carbon is stored in the woody parts of trees across the planet
Developed as part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Climate Change Initiative, the updated forest carbon maps mark a major step forward, with scientists from Aberystwyth University playing a key role in their scientific development and validation
which will soon include data from the Biomass satellite itself
combines measurements from multiple missions such as Envisat
The new data focuses on the carbon-dense parts of trees – mainly trunks and branches – around the globe
It covers various years between 2007 and 2022 and offers resolutions from 100 meters to 50 kilometers
The maps are designed to support climate modeling, help countries manage forests more effectively
and guide greenhouse gas reporting under the Paris Agreement
is a pivotal moment for climate science as it provides an unprecedented level of consistency and timeliness in the provision of above-ground biomass estimates globally,” said Frank Martin Seifert
“This empowers researchers and policymakers alike to track carbon dynamics with the temporal precision necessary for meaningful climate action.”
Forests are a key player in the global carbon cycle
they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it as biomass in their trunks
that stored carbon gets released back into the atmosphere
Tracking the amount of biomass stored in forests helps scientists understand how much carbon is being absorbed – how stable that storage is – and how much might be released
The revised dataset corrects long-standing underestimates in dense
thanks in part to international collaboration with partners like the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Updates to the algorithm used to retrieve biomass data have made the results more reliable
especially in capturing trends across the globe’s major forest regions
“The new dataset provides a much more accurate representation of global forest biomass
particularly in regions where earlier versions underestimated high-density forests,” explained Richard Lucas
measuring extremely dense forests remains tricky
“Detecting biomass densities above 400 tonnes per hectare is considerably more difficult because the relatively short wavelengths of current radar sensors don’t fully penetrate or interact with the larger woody components of dense tropical forests,” Lucas added
emphasized that accuracy has improved with this version
“When assessed against independent reference data from all over the world
the new maps are of higher quality,” he said
Santoro acknowledged that there’s more work to be done
“Better characterization of the states and dynamics of carbon stored in vegetation is still necessary
which will be facilitated by ingesting additional satellite data from past missions
This is where the ESA’s new Biomass satellite steps in
It carries a P-band radar – the first of its kind in space – with a wavelength of about 70 centimeters
This allows it to penetrate dense tree canopies
where carbon estimates have traditionally been more uncertain
Lucas expressed optimism about what lies ahead. “We hope and anticipate that data from the Biomass mission, once available, will be able to extend the record of biomass stored in the world’s forests, with this reducing uncertainties in the global carbon cycle and its contribution to climate change.”
With each new satellite and dataset
scientists edge closer to understanding the true scale of the carbon stored in our forests – and what that means for our future
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According to Ukrinform, the State Emergency Service (SES) reported this on Facebook
the enemy launched MLRS strikes at forested areas of Borova community in Izium district
fires broke out in the Borova forestry area
and in the Chervonooskil Regional Landscape Park
affecting over five hectares," the statement reads
A total of 34 rescuers and nine units of SES equipment
have been deployed to extinguish the fires
A total of 11 forest fires are currently being extinguished across forestry areas in Kharkiv region
five of which are directly linked to Russian shelling
drone attacks in Izium district of Kharkiv region have caused destruction and fires
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As the new Biomass satellite settles into life in orbit following its launch on 29 April
ESA has released its most extensive satellite-based maps of above-ground forest carbon to date
the dataset offers the clearest global picture yet of how forest carbon stocks have changed over time
Developed through ESA’s Climate Change Initiative
this new long-term record integrates data from multiple satellite missions – and will soon be further enhanced by data from the Biomass mission itself
It tracks the carbon-rich woody parts of vegetation
across the globe for different years between 2007 and 2022
at resolutions ranging from 100 m to 50 km
it is tailored to support climate and carbon modelling
and national greenhouse-gas reporting activities as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement
is a pivotal moment for climate science as it provides an unprecedented level of consistency and timeliness in the provision of above-ground biomass estimates globally
“This empowers researchers and policymakers alike to track carbon dynamics with the temporal precision necessary for meaningful climate action.”
Trees play a vital role in the global carbon cycle
storing large amounts of carbon as biomass
While this carbon stock increases as forests grow
it can be rapidly released back into the atmosphere through deforestation and wildfires – contributing significantly to rising carbon dioxide levels and
The dataset draws from different Earth-observing satellites including ESA’s Envisat and Europe’s Copernicus Sentinel-1
Thanks to close international collaboration
particularly with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
this latest release significantly improves on the accuracy of biomass estimates and corrects long-standing underestimates in high-biomass regions
Refinements to the biomass retrieval algorithm have resulted in a dataset that delivers more consistent and reliable information across the world’s forest biomes – though it remains most accurate up to 400 tonnes of biomass per hectare
who leads ESA’s Climate Change Initiative Biomass Project
particularly in regions where earlier versions underestimated high-density forests.”
Lucas added that challenges remain in capturing the most carbon-rich ecosystems
“Detecting biomass densities above 400 tonnes per hectare is considerably more difficult because the relatively short wavelengths of current radar sensors don’t fully penetrate or interact with the larger woody components of dense tropical forests.”
better characterisation of the states and dynamics of carbon stored in vegetation is still necessary
which is set to transform how we assess the planet’s forest carbon stores
Equipped with the first spaceborne P-band radar
this pioneering satellite will be capable of penetrating thick forest canopies to measure the carbon locked in even the densest vegetation
It promises to drastically reduce uncertainties in forest carbon estimates
especially in tropical regions such as the Amazon
“We hope and anticipate that data from the Biomass mission
will be able to extend the record of biomass stored in the world’s forests
with this reducing uncertainties in the global carbon cycle and its contribution to climate change,” added Prof
The ESA Climate Change Initiative Biomass Dataset Version 6 is free and open: access here
Read more: How Biomass the mission will be used in the Climate Change Initiative Biomass Project
Above-ground biomass global datasets 2007–2022
The fire was first reported around 12:00 p.m. Sunday. An evacuation order for Snow Lake is in effect. According to Watch Duty, the evacuation order is only for recreational facilities at Snow Lake
No evacuation order has been issued for any residences
Forest Service lists the following areas as at-risk: Willow Creek
recreational facilities and threatened or endangered wildlife species
Iron Fire is located within the Whitewater Baldy burn scar and is burning grass
including the Gila Hotshots and Idaho City Hotshots
two additional hotshot crews have been ordered and additional engines
The Southwest Area Type 3 Incident Management Team has been ordered to take over management of the wildfire on Tuesday morning
Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KOB via our online formor call 505-243-4411
Spring Showcase Offers ‘Small Taste’ of Wake Forest in the Dickert Era5/5/2025 7:38:00 AM | Football
I'm thankful for them accepting the change and understanding what the new Wake Forest is going to look like
Crystal Palace will host Nottingham Forest for a late-season English Premier League showdown on Monday
The Eagles (11-12-11) enter Monday's match with 45 points
but are looking for their first league win since April 5
The Tricky Trees (18-6-10) are fighting to secure a place in a European competition next season
but have lost three of their past four EPL fixtures
Nottingham Forest recorded a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture
has been SportsLine's top soccer editor for more than six years
he was profitable across multiple leagues for SportsLine subscribers
Here are Sutton's top EPL picks and predictions for Crystal Palace vs
Nottingham Forest have struggled in the attacking third in recent weeks
scoring one or fewer goals in four of their last five league games
failing to score in two of their past three matches in the Premier League
"Nottingham Forest secured a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture
and I expect we'll see another cagey affair on Monday," Sutton told SportsLine
"Under 2.5 goals have been scored in each of the last six meetings between these teams
and Nottingham Forest have been shut out in three of their last four matches across all competitions."
Chris Wood has been spectacular for the Tricky Trees this season
Wood ranks fourth in the Premier League with 19 goals and has recorded a goal or an assist in three of his last four away fixtures
"Wood has 19 goals and three assists across 32 matches in league play
including the lone goal in Nottingham Forest's 1-0 win in the reverse fixture," Sutton pointed out
"Crystal Palace have conceded 47 goals this season
I feel like we're getting great value with Wood to score or assist in what feels like a must-win for Forest."
You've seen Brandt Sutton's best bets for Crystal Palace vs. Nottingham Forest in English Premier League action. Now, get UEFA Champions League picks and exact score predictions from SportsLine's soccer model, which has simulated every game 10,000 times
Ben Verbrugge is a freelance sportswriter with a journalism degree from CSU Dominguez Hills
He is a member of the Los Angeles media and spends most of his time covering the NBA
either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter
or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources
Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content
Crystal Palace will face Nottingham Forest in this Premier League matchup on Monday, and you can catch all the action live with FuboTV
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest will take the pitch on Monday
at Selhurst Park in this Premier League clash
Crystal Palace has its eyes set on an FA Cup Final match against Manchester City in a couple of weeks
their last couple of Premier League matches will keep them ready
While Crystal Palace has been disappointing in the Premier League this season
Nottingham still has a chance to sneak into the top five
Their 60 points place them sixth in the standings
but they are within striking distance of Chelsea and Newcastle
who currently sit in fourth and fifth with 63 points
their previous three meetings had ended in a draw
This is a great Premier League match. Tune into FuboTV to catch all the action
Live stream Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest for free with FuboTV: Start your subscription now!
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They are horrible for all the reasons you can think of
But – and maybe it’s too soon to say this – there is one exception that comes to mind
She can explain the science and wonder of it all to you
a mushroom foraging experience she and her expert partners provide
While they too think fires are primarily awful
the wild part of our food system that is foraged foods
going to the burn areas in the Sierras to forage for morels in late Spring
gathering about two hours north of Petaluma
My partner and I joined for one of their adventures in Salt Point
perfect for slowly ambling through the dappled light of the coastal conifer forest
Just a sharp knife and a basket or mesh bag
spreading future offspring wherever a forager trudges
additional skills or equipment were not really needed as Julie and her mycological buddies encouraged us to capture every mushroom we found so that we could learn to identify them back at the meeting site
a picnic area in the Salt Point campground
it was hard not to see mushrooms everywhere – tree trunks where turkey tails and their cousins grew
“shrumps” (the official word that describes the little dirt hump that a mushroom makes as it’s fruiting body comes out of the earth) where chanterelles and trumpets peaked out
and the footpaths where little loner hedgehogs and candy caps stood at attention
(It’s good to know where the cars are parked
just in case you truly lose track of everyone else
I say surprising because I’m a Type A person
with a mind that whirs a thousand miles an hour
not only did we learn how to find our own food
this requirement of us to slow down – and even get a little lost – had the effect of returning me to the pure bliss I felt when I was a child exploring the land and could let my mind run free
Foraging takes both total concentration and total mindlessness
It really felt calming and energizing all at once
I did peek at some gardening sites to see if this is true
and I believe it – “Contact with soil and a specific soil bacteria
triggers the release of serotonin in our brain according to research
a natural antidepressant and strengthens the immune system.”
The cherry on top – when we gathered to see our cache
Julie set about sauteing the edible mushrooms in butter and shallots
The funky-sweet-savory smell drifted around the campground
and chanterelles mere minutes after pulling them from the earth
enjoying them on toasted bread with nothing else
and I don’t believe they needed anything else
If only fires didn’t destroy our communities
For you who live in Central and Northern California
Plan your next serotonin uplift day – sign up with MycoVentures and get out of all the craziness
Maybe it’s not too late to join a group trip this Spring
Find out more at MycoVentures.com
Naomi Crawford has spent 35 years in the restaurant industry
Her goal is to help people get better connected to one another and to place through food and food systems
By Marc Heller | 05/05/2025 06:59 AM EDT
The “Fix Our Forests Act” has provisions the Trump administration supports — but also contradicts some aspects of the White House’s new proposed budget
will testify on Capitol Hill this week on forest management legislation
The Trump administration will weigh in this week on the latest proposed overhaul of federal forest management
including stepped-up thinning and more support for community wildfire preparation
The Senate Agriculture Committee holds a hearing Tuesday on the “Fix Our Forests Act,” a modified version of a long-standing House effort led by Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and others
Senators added several provisions to boost community wildfire preparation
The basic outline of the legislation remains to increase thinning and related activities
on designated “firesheds” deemed at highest wildfire risk
John Curtis (R-Utah) is the lead sponsor in the Senate
Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
The Forest Service’s acting associate chief
Request a FREE trial to receive unlimited access to
Just in time for the summer tourist season
the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park will reopen Thursday
Jefferson County said in a news release Monday
The rainforest is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most visited natural destinations
Access to the Hoh Rain Forest is crucial for local businesses and the economy
Jefferson County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour said at a news conference in Seattle in March
Tourists spent more than $444 million in Jefferson and nearby Clallam counties in 2023
generating nearly $39 million in state and local tax dollars
The Upper Hoh Road has been closed for nearly five months after heavy rains heightened the Hoh River’s flow in December and eroded several feet of the road
Bob Ferguson in March announced that the state would spend $623,000 from its Strategic Reserve Fund to repair the road
That came alongside $27,000 from more than 100 private donors
parking area and restrooms will reopen at 12:30 p.m
shortly after a noon celebration at the repair site
Ferguson will join local officials and community members for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome visitors back to the rainforest
Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below
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Get the day’s top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here
TDS Telecommunications continues expanding its high-speed
all-fiber internet network into more Spokane-area neighborhoods
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147.45.197.102 : 60e63bd2-7f59-47ce-bc66-b94ae6fb
Money really does grow on trees in Alabama
Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in the state, generating about an $80 billion annual economic impact according to the Alabama Farmers Federation, and the forest industry alone has an annual economic impact of about $36 billion according to the Alabama Department of Commerce
Yet the majority of forest land in Alabama − almost 90 percent − is in the hands of private
The average forest landowner in Alabama owns 10 acres and plants over 1,200 trees per year
Last year, southern pine beetles devastated about 52,000 acres of pine forests across the state
according to the Alabama Forestry Commission
another problem is affecting loblolly pine trees
The commission is telling forest landowners about brown spot needle blight
a fungal disease that causes needle discoloration and needle drop
It also has the potential to stunt tree growth and increase risk from pests such as bark beetles
and the disease seems to be infecting trees with greater severity in west Alabama,” said AFC Forest Health Coordinator Drew Metzler
“Although this pathogen has been affecting loblolly pines for years
mild wet weather over recent weeks has provided ideal growing conditions for brown spot needle blight
with infections generally beginning in the lower canopy of affected pines and spreading upward through the crown if conditions allow.”
Metzler noted that landowners should not panic
as we get closer to summer and daytime temperatures increase
and trees usually green back up,” he continued
Symptoms of the disease include brown spots on needles with yellow halos
Landowners are encouraged to inspect their pines regularly and monitor for excessive mortality or secondary pests
More: It's not summer yet, but warm weather has arrived in AL. How hot will it get?
contact your county forester or local AFC office
According to the Alabama Farmers Federation:
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com
4vs1Kentucky
Wake Forest Advances to NCAA Super Regionals with 4-1 Victory Over Kentucky5/3/2025 8:31:00 PM | Men's Tennis
The Demon Deacons will host either Texas A&M or Baylor next Friday
Nottingham Forest's season is going nowhere fast
and our EPL picks expect Crystal Palace to take advantage of their poor form on Monday
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are meeting under the floodlights of Selhurst Park this afternoon
Nottingham Forest predictions have Palace getting another win and furthering Forest’s woes.
Read on for my Premier League free betting picks for Monday
My Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest best bet: Crystal Palace moneyline (+130 at BetMGM)
Crystal Palace are sitting 12th in the table
with nothing else left to play for in the Premier League this season
they have an FA Cup Final against Man City to look forward to later this month
and their players will be looking to impress Oliver Glasner in the build-up to that Wembley showcase to cement a starting spot for that affair.
It wasn’t long ago that the club was sitting third in the Premier League
and looked like they would be competing in next season’s Champions League
which would have been a historic achievement and a long-awaited return to the pinnacle of European soccer
after losing just four league games from the start of the season until late January
they’ve since lost six in the league
That’s seen them slip down the table and they’re now on the outside looking in when it comes to finishing in a coveted UCL position
and Aston Villa all battling them for the three spots behind Arsenal and Liverpool.
our best bet must be for Crystal Palace to win this game
Palace are the team riding the wave of a feel-good atmosphere at the club
They have drawn their past two in the league but should return to winning ways against a Forest team that's lost four of their past five in all competitions and have failed to score in three of their past four games
One of the biggest issues has been a drop in form for their stars
Chris Wood started the season excellently for Forest
but he’s now scored just one goal in his past nine games
the team just doesn’t look dangerous
It also looks like Callum Hudson-Odoi will be out of this game following his injury against Brentford
that Forest attack takes another hit.
It's sad to see Forest drop down the table
but there’s nothing in their recent performances to suggest they'll return to the form we saw earlier in the season
They’ve buckled under the pressure in their recent games
Crystal Palace moneylineBoth teams to score: NoJean-Philippe Mateta to score or assist
As well as our best bet backing Palace to win
we saw Forest lose 2-0 at home to Brentford
a poor performance in which they never looked that dangerous going forward
it was their third game without scoring in their past four games
We know Oliver Glasner sets up this Palace defense well
and we’re taking Palace to keep a clean sheet.
The final leg of this SGP is for Jean-Philippe Mateta to either score or assist
He’s managed either a goal or to set one up in his past two games
with 17 goals and three assists for Palace in all competitions this season
Cheick Doucoure CM (Out).Nottingham Forest: Ola Aina DEF (Questionable)
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where he grew up living and breathing soccer
before discovering - and playing - a different kind of football at the University of Bristol
He’s worked in the media covering soccer and the NFL for the better part of a decade
and has been a regular on the Matchbook NFL Podcast
His work has also appeared in a wide range of publications including The Telegraph
The search for great betting value is a daily one
and Sam always hunts out big prices with a particular focus on player props
Sam’s best advice for bettors is to track their bets on a spreadsheet
that way you can keep an eye on your P&L but also the types of bets and sports that you are most successful in
He also recommends using a variety of different sportsbooks
Betfair and Paddy Power amongst his favorites
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service are highlighting the dangers of wildfire arson during Arson Awareness Week
we are reminding all Floridians to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity,” said Commissioner Simpson
one careless or criminal act can devastate thousands of acres
Our department remains committed to preventing wildfires and bringing arsonists to justice.”
Portions of the state are experiencing drought conditions, and 23 counties are under current burn bans. So far this year, there have been 1,761 wildfires burning 74,891 acres in Florida. Arson on wooded lands costs Florida taxpayers millions of dollars each year
It’s a felony and is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000
“Man-made fires are still the number one cause of wildfires in Florida
and arson is a serious crime that we do not tolerate,” said Rick Dolan
help protect the lives of citizens and first responders by reporting it.”
a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests
The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes
and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire
Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency because of the imminent threat of wildfire beginning on July 12
“Wildfires are active across Oregon and are growing at a concerning pace
including forecasted lightning in some […]
the Bureau of Land Management officials are extending the annual campfire restrictions on several central Oregon rivers
The restrictions normally lift on October 15 each year; however
firefighters are still working to suppress several large wildfires in central Oregon
– Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service are warning of increased fire danger in Florida due to significant post-storm vegetative debris and dry weather
The Florida Forest Service and local fire departments are urging Floridians to use caution and know the law when burning debris piles
— The Maryland Department of Agriculture and Maryland Farm Bureau are encouraging farmers to follow fire prevention safety following an increase of field and equipment fires during this dryer than usual fall harvest season
“Farmers across Maryland continue to experience dry weather conditions from a lack of precipitation,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks
Prepare Your Landscape & Trees for Hurricane Season
Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again
Metrics details
China has restored extensive forest areas through afforestation and natural regeneration
the restoration patterns and the mechanisms driving aboveground carbon accumulation in these forests remain unclear
We mapped the distribution of the aboveground carbon accumulation rates for China’s young planted and natural forests in 2020 and identified key factors influencing their variability using remote sensing and field data
The analysis reveals marked spatial heterogeneity in aboveground carbon accumulation rates of these restored young forests
young planted forests show lower aboveground carbon accumulation rates than young natural forests
Although young planted forests currently sequester more carbon
projections indicate that by 2060 its total aboveground carbon stock will be lower than that of young natural forests
our findings emphasize optimizing forest structure in managing China’s planted forests to enhance carbon storage
understanding the aboveground carbon (AGC) accumulation capacity of different forest restoration measures and their relationships with environmental and anthropogenic conditions are essential for formulating effective restoration strategies and enhancing carbon sequestration potential
the patterns and driving mechanisms of AGC accumulation rates resulting from different forest restoration approaches remain unclear
leading to challenges in accurately estimating the contribution of China’s forest restoration strategies to global climate change mitigation
a systematic comparative study on AGC accumulation rates and their differences in different forest restoration modes are urgently needed across China
to help accurately estimate forest carbon accumulation
and nutrient cycling under current or future climate change scenarios
whether the response mechanisms of AGC accumulation rates in planted forests to these factors are similar to those in natural forests
whether there are differences in their AGC accumulation rates
and what the primary factors causing these differences are still unknown
a better understanding of drivers of AGC accumulation rates in planted and natural forests
especially in highly altered forest regions
may optimize the efficiency of carbon conservation and restoration projects and support nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation
This comprehensive analysis helps elucidate the distinct recovery pathways and carbon dynamics under different forest restoration strategies
b Changes of AGC in various types of natural forests along with time
d Changes of AGC in various types of planted forests along with time
e Average AGC accumulation rates for both natural forests and plantations under 30 years of age
SBDF Subtropical broadleaf deciduous forest
SMBEF Subtropical monsoon broadleaf evergreen forest
SBEF Subtropical broadleaf evergreen forest
TMNBDF Temperate mixed needle leaf and broadleaf deciduous forest
SMBEDF Subtropical mixed broadleaf evergreen and deciduous forest
CTTMNF Cold-temperate and temperate mountains needle leaf forest
SBESF Subtropical broadleaf evergreen sclerophyllous forest
Shading in (a–d) denotes the 95% confidence interval of the Logistic nonlinear model
The error bar in (e) denotes the 95% confidence interval of the estimated AGC rate for various forest types
These findings highlight the considerable spatial variability in AGC accumulation rates
driven by diverse forest restoration strategies across China
b Spatial patterns of PYF (a) and NYF (b) AGC accumulation rates
d Changes in AGC accumulation rates with increasing longitude (c) and latitude (d)
Shading denotes the 95% confidence interval of the estimated AGC accumulation rates
To deeply understand the mechanisms underlying the spatial patterns of AGC accumulation rates and identify the primary factors contributing to the differences between NYF and PYF
and human activity and employed a Random Forest algorithm to evaluate their influence on the accumulation rates of AGC in NYF and PYF (Methods)
and human activity for PYF (a) and NYF (b)
c Relationships between the PYF AGC accumulation rate and the most critical factors selected in temperature
d Relationships between the NYF AGC accumulation rate and the most critical factors selected in temperature
The relationship with each factor was modeled using simple linear regression with T-test
The solid black lines represent the fitted lines
and HUFP represent the Temperature Seasonality
a Box plots of the AGC accumulation rate of PYF and NYF with the same age at 0.05°
c Relationships between the differences in AGC accumulation rates between PYF and NYF with differences in the primary factors among each category
PRSE precipitation seasonality; CEC soil cation exchange capacity
*** represent significant differences at 99.9% confidence levels
a Future AGC storage changes in China’s PYF and NYF
b Future AGC rate changes in China’s PYF and NYF
Shading denotes the 95% confidence intervals of estimated AGC storage and rate
indicating a slower but steadier increase in carbon storage
These observations underscore the potential limitations of relying solely on planted forests for rapid AGC sequestration and highlight the importance of incorporating natural regeneration into forest management strategies
future forest management should adopt a balanced and integrated approach that leverages the strengths of both natural and planted forests to maximize carbon sequestration and achieve climate goals
In the context of accelerating global carbon neutrality initiatives
this study underscores the pivotal role of forest restoration in climate change mitigation
It highlights the current status and differences between planted and naturally regenerated forests in China
By integrating remote sensing and field observations
we demonstrate that seasonal temperature dominates the spatial heterogeneity in AGC accumulation rates between PYF and NYF with a negative correlation
PYF exhibits lower AGC accumulation rates at comparable ages
largely attributable to structural factors such as tree number
Although PYF initially sequesters more AGC
modeling projections indicate that its total AGC stock will fall below NYF’s by 2060
These findings not only refine our understanding of differential forest carbon accumulation processes but also underscore the importance of optimizing forest structure to enhance long-term carbon sequestration in planted forests
By informing targeted silvicultural practices and policy decisions
this study provides critical insight into maximizing carbon storage potential and fortifying global climate strategies
particularly in regions where forest restoration initiatives are integral to achieving net-zero emissions targets
To investigate the influence of temperature, precipitation, soil, topography, forest structure, and human activity on the spatial distributions of AGC accumulation rates in PYF and NYF, we compiled a dataset comprising various factors (Supplementary Table 4)
which provides the AGC accumulation rates for each forest type at different ages
we used time-series Landsat imagery from 1990 to 2020 to detect the most recent disturbance year (including harvesting
We then determined forest age by subtracting the disturbance year from 2020
Any pixel for which no disturbance was detected back to (including) 1990 was treated as having age above 30 years and thus excluded from the PYF or NYF category
we mapped the spatial extents and age structures of NYF and PYF across China via the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform
The specific detection steps are as follows:
Segmentation of China’s Forest Regions: Given the vast and extensive area coverage of China’s forests
performing time series change detection on the entire forest region directly within GEE is unfeasible
we divided the forest regions into 1° × 1° grids covering the entire country
and their respective age structures were conducted within each grid
and the results were mosaicked into a new dataset covering the entire China using the tool “Mosaic to new raster” in ArcGIS Pro 3.0
and SWIR denotes the short-wave infrared band
we implemented the Landtrendr algorithm on GEE to detect forest disturbances and estimate forest ages
The critical parameters for running Landtrendr include the “maxSegments
we selected the following parameters to optimize the detection accuracy: “10
These settings were determined to be the most effective for capturing the temporal changes in China’s natural and planted forests
we identified the year a disturbance occurred for each pixel
allowing us to determine the corresponding age of the planted or natural forest pixel by subtracting that year from 2020
confirming its reliability and providing robust data support for our subsequent research
as it is an ensemble learning technique that constructs multiple decision trees and aggregates their results to improve prediction accuracy and robustness
we ran each model 50 times and evaluated the impact of each factor by calculating the average importance across these runs
the number of trees parameter was set to 100
to delve deeper into the impacts of temperature
and human activity on AGC in NYF and PYF forests
we constructed simple linear models for the most crucial factor within each category against the AGC accumulation rates of NYF and PYF based on the results of the previous analyses
These models were subjected to statistical testing
validating their significance and reliability using paired t-tests
to elucidate the factors contributing to differences in AGC accumulation rates between PYF and NYF
we created grids with resolutions of 0.05°
We calculated the average AGC sequestration rates for PYF and NYF within each grid
along with the average values of corresponding factors (temperature
We then selected grids with the same forest age
calculated the differences in AGC accumulation rates between PYF and NYF within each grid
and computed the differences in the corresponding factors
we employed paired t-tests to assess whether there were significant differences in AGC accumulation rates between PYF and NYF across various scales
Using these differences in factors as explanatory variables
we applied the above Random Forest method to evaluate the primary factors contributing to the differences in AGC accumulation rates between PYF and NYF
we used linear models and paired t-tests to evaluate the impact mechanisms of the most significant factors-temperature
and human activity—on the differences between PYF and NYF
We assumed that all forests identified in this study would receive adequate protection in the future
Using the AGC stock growth models developed for each forest type
we projected the contribution of these forests to AGC stock by 2060
in alignment with China’s carbon neutrality goal
we illustrated the changes in AGC stock and AGC accumulation rates for NYF and PYF from 2020 to 2060
We employed the Monte Carlo simulation method to quantify the uncertainty of the logistic growth model parameters and to calculate confidence intervals for the predictions
we calculated the residuals between the original data and the initial fitted model
we used the Monte Carlo simulation to generate multiple sets of AGC data
each consisting of the AGC predicted by the initial model plus randomly sampled residuals
We refitted the logistic growth model for each composite dataset to obtain a new set of model parameters
generating 1000 different sets of model parameters
we calculated the predictions for each simulation and determined the 95% confidence intervals by computing the percentiles for each prediction
Further information on research design is available in the Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary linked to this article
The codes are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.28813163.v1
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Download references
This study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China 2022YFF13002002 (Q.G.)
National Key R&D Program of China 2022YFF13002003 (K.C.)
and National Natural Science Foundation of China 42371329 (Q.G.)
Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System
College of Urban and Environmental Sciences
Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Carbon Source and Sink
China Meteorological Administration (ECSS-CMA)
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
The authors declare no competing interests
Communications Earth & Environment thanks Dheeraj Ralhan and the other
reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work
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2025 4:23 p.m.After local officials banned camping in urban areas
Shawna Roberson answers the phone while packing up her home in the Deschutes National Forest on Apr
Forest Service closed about 26,000 acres of the Deschutes National Forest on Thursday after homelessness advocates unsuccessfully attempted to delay the project’s start
Forest Service officials have said they need to clear vegetation in the area to prevent wildfires
They gave roughly 200 people living in encampments nearly four months of warning to collect belongings and find somewhere else to go
Deschutes National Forest spokesperson Kaitlin Webb said in a prepared statement that “it’s not within our purview or authority to lead out on addressing homelessness and houselessness.”
National homeless advocates say the evictions show the Trump administration’s ineffective approach to a widespread housing crisis
That political framing has drawn national media coverage to what’s been a years-long effort by local and state officials to stop people from living on public land in Central Oregon
In the final week leading up to the closure, people at the site near Bend were hoping for reprieve while trying to get themselves and their community out of the forest. On Tuesday, a federal judge rejected a request for a temporary restraining order that would have paused the camp removal
drove along Horse Butte Road with Jesse Rabinowitz the day before the May 1 closure
Jesse Rabinowitz drives to Shawna Roberson's trailer home while Mandy Bryant directs him through the Deschutes National Forest on Apr
The two got word that law enforcement were at Roberson's trailer
the campaign and communications director with the National Homelessness Law Center
described the closure as the largest eviction of people living on federal land in recent memory
Bryant had been living in the forest for years with her boyfriend
who said he used to judge people living unsheltered before it happened to him
Under the banner of updating the city’s parking code last year
councilors voted to require people to move their vehicles every 24 hours
Some people driven out of the city moved to more rural areas to the north
to an encampment known as “Dirt World.” Others moved south
which residents refer to as “China Hat” and “Horse Butte.” The Forest Service calls its plan to close this area the Cabin Butte project
A recent point-in-time count showed homelessness in Bend has decreased
while increasing in surrounding rural areas
Deschutes Forest manager Holly Jewkes alerted local officials in a 2022 letter that city sweeps were pushing people onto federal land
Thursday’s camp removals have the potential to move people back into more urban areas with tight regulations and limited resources for services
The week leading up to the Cabin Butte closure
both Bryant’s and Daggett’s vehicles broke down
Bryant called it “a perfect storm of adding onto an already stressful moment.” She said it seemed to be happening to a lot of people who were trying to get their things together to leave
Mandy Bryant looks out into the forest in the Horse Butte area of the Deschutes National Forest on Apr
Bryant moved out of the Deschutes National Forest just before the May 1 closure
Rabinowitz picked up Bryant and drove out to have a pizza party in the forest
a goodbye event for a community where some residents have lived for years
local volunteers from Bend Equity Project and The National Vehicle Residency Collective gathered to share food and support people getting their things together in the last hours before the closure
Colleen Thomas supervises Deschutes County’s Homeless Services Outreach Team
She said the impact of this closure feels “a lot heavier” than the sweeps in Bend
some of them may have been living in this area for four
“so they’ve created community and their homes are much more complex than just a tent on a sidewalk.”
the Homeless Outreach Services Team supervisor for Deschutes County
Bryant said that when new people would move into their area
they’ll give you something today even though they know they’re going to need it tomorrow
just because you need it that day,” she said
As the afternoon grew long on the day before the closure
Shawna Roberson was trying to bag up clothes
She wore a brace to support her back and said moving was painful
Roberson was one of the 80 people to file a disability claim against the U.S
Department of Agriculture in an attempt to slow the looming forest closure
Local advocates also sought a restraining order against the Forest Service last week
a law enforcement officer had just been by
“They were actually really nice today,” she said
She said they told her that before midnight
“we gotta be on the other side of the gate.”
Shawna Roberson's walker in the Deschutes National Forest on Apr
Roberson was one of 80 people who filed a disability claim with the USDA in an attempt to delay the project
even as local and federal law enforcement were on site
The Forest Service said people won’t be able to move in and out of the area to get things they left behind
but abandoned property would be held for up to 90 days
People need to be able to show proof of ownership to claim their property
Webb didn’t immediately know where the items would be held
or what people might do if ownership documents are inside the confiscated property
Tags: Homeless, Homelessness, Bend, Central Oregon
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Forest Hills Connection | News and Life in Our DC Neighborhood
May 5, 2025 by FHC Leave a Comment
One recent Sunday, Van Ness Main Street’s Good Clean Fun initiative hosted a dance party at Forest Hills Park.
A post shared by Van Ness Main Street (@vannessmainst)
A post shared by Van Ness Main Street (@vannessmainst)
And this coming Saturday, May 10th from 9:30am to noon, GCF is leading an all-ages cleanup at the park. (Volunteers can sign up here.)
These events serve as reminders that so much the quality of life is our neighborhood is determined by the activism of our neighbors. And the volunteers looking after Forest Hills Park are the latest in a long line of activists who have nurtured this community gathering place over the years
The Good Clean Fun initiative has been doing a lot of problem-solving work of late
Good Clean Fun co-founder Tracy Zorpette recently met with representatives of several city agencies to assess the unkept state of 3100 block of Brandywine and discuss potential improvements. The sloping parcel of land
is not regularly maintained by the city and attracts litter and dumping.
The problem area was even a problem in 2014
and large swaths of bush honeysuckle that extend from the property of the Capital Memorial Church
whose property also stretches to Brandywine Street
Staff from the Fisheries and Wildlife Division at the DC Department of Energy and Environment are assessing whether the site meets the criteria for the agency’s funding for invasive plant management
Volunteer work through a “Weed Warriors” event would be limited to flat areas and not on the steep slope
and during the winter to avoid poison ivy exposure
The slope of the property limits the ability to remove invasive trees and bushes
While many native healthy trees are present
including the white-flowering black locust
others are undesirable such as invasive white mulberry
Removing all of the invasive plants could cause the steep hillside to collapse
although pruning and removal of one or two Mulberry trees could be possible
Dead trees were identified and will be removed
New trees could be planted in six to eight months where there are removals
there are a lot of cooks in this city government kitchen:
While long-term improvements to this wooded area may take time, residents are encouraged to submit a 311 request for “Grass Mowing Services Missed” (DGS) when it appears that the vegetation has not been trimmed and is growing into the sidewalk. Learn more about Van Ness Main Street’s Good Clean Fun initiative and support the effort here
Forest Hills Connection is also a program of Van Ness Main Street
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(WZMQ) – An Upper Peninsula branch of a U.S
Department of Agriculture service is closed to the public until further notice
The U.S. Forest Service has announced that visitor services at its Hiawatha National Forest Rapid River office are no longer available. In a Facebook post
the Forest Service advised the public to instead visit the Superivisor’s Office and Welcome Center in Gladstone
the Gladstone Supervisor’s Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m
The Hiawatha National Forest also has a Ranger District Office in Munising at 400 East Munising Ave
For more information on Hiawatha National Forest office locations and hours of operation, visit fs.usda.gov
WZMQ 19 has reached out to the Forest Service for information on why the Rapid River office has been shut down
© 2025 WZMQ, LLC | FCC Public File | EEO Report
and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry are collaborating on a project to enhance the habitat within Michaux State Forest
The project aims to create a mosaic of habitats benefiting wild turkeys and other wildlife species
many of which are classified as species of great conservation concern
More than 1,000 acres of the southern Pennsylvania state forest are being monitored for management work set to begin this summer
and cut-and-leave treatment of trees that have died due to disease or insect infestation
These managed acres will contribute to the 100,000 acres of land conserved under the NWTF’s Forests and Flocks Initiative
Foresters plan to cut down more than 1,000 trees across the 205-acre project footprint
Strategically placing woody material directly into or near streams will improve habitat
support diverse ecosystems and enhance forest composition and structural diversity at all vegetation layers
Trees will be strategically removed to create stream canopy gaps and increase downed woody materials along three miles of streams and adjacent forests
This increased structure in and around the stream will help reconnect the water table with the floodplain
slow down water velocity during high flow events
reduce erosive potential and improve water filtration and recharge through increased retention time within the watershed
Managers also plan to retire about three miles of poorly placed redundant road segments
which negatively impact streams and stream-side forests
The roads will be repurposed as shared-use trails and firebreaks
designed to prevent or slow the spread of wildfires and control prescribed burns
predictability and safety of implementing prescribed fire and other managed disturbance regimes to sustain dynamic habitats at the upper tributary system level
is working in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program and South Mountain Partnership Conservation Network to advance all five of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) program pillars
The Pennsylvania NWTF State Chapter committed significant funds to the project via the state chapter’s Super Fund
the Super Fund is a volunteer-driven program
NWTF volunteers in every state raise money at banquets and other types of fundraisers and then allocate a significant portion of those funds back into meaningful conservation and outreach projects in their respective states
The project will directly benefit wild turkeys by creating early successional habitat
the project will improve ecosystem conditions for all species by increasing species and structural diversity on a landscape level
resulting in a healthier forest and a greater quantity and quality of nesting and brood-rearing habitat for wild turkeys
The Public Opinion, The Record Herald, Echo-Pilot are growing their local news
“The NFWF project on the Michaux is a continuation of the great restoration work that has occurred on the South Mountain ridge-tops,” said Mitch Blake
is now being restored acre by acre through landscape-scale disturbance
It's great to see the habitats for species of the greatest conservation concern being addressed as well as upper tributary water quality concerns
This project is really the epitome of a landscape scale forest health collaborative.”
the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted more than 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat
The NWTF has also invested more than $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity
This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct or share your thoughts at http://bit.ly/3RapUkA with our News Automation and AI team
Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCASTLE HAYNE
(WECT) - New Hanover County has issued the group behind a transformative and controversial development project in Castle Hayne a series of permit violations
sent to Copper Builders founder Wade Miller on April 14
include building a structure without the appropriate building
floodplain and Coastal Area Management Act permits
which protects coastal resources from development impacts
The notice is tied to what Miller described as a “premanufactured
and had been put there within the past few weeks
Hunters on the property had noticed the structure
and New Hanover County received pictures of it
triggering the notice of violations letter
The county threatened fines of $100 per day unless Copper Builders removed the structure or completed commercial building application permits by April 24
Those applications have been submitted and are under review
“Apparently in response to a complaint from a motivated citizen
the County inquired about this use and issued a notice of violation,” Miller
“We…will continue to work with the County to resolve this concern in an appropriate and legal manner.”
who argue the project will negatively impact traffic
“This was never meant to be developed this way,” said Julie Hurley
Copper Builders has been adamant they’ll see the project through despite objections
though said they have adjusted parts of their plan based on community feedback
The project doesn’t need county commissioner approval
a subdivision of the development will go in front of the county’s technical review committee next week to iron out more specifics
whose property is a stone’s throw from a piece of the development site
the notice of violations is a cause of concern
“This has thrown up a lot of red flags about what possibly come as far as trustworthiness and transparency,” she said
Hurley is worried the developer is trying to get ahead of the game without playing by the rules
“To see a picture of a structure without a permit is very disconcerting,” Hurley said
Hilton Bluffs Notice of Violation Letter by WECT Staff on Scribd
Hilton Bluffs Notice of Violation Letter by WECT Staff on Scribd
KOUROU, French Guiana - The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched its flagship Biomass satellite
a mission to deliver critical data on the Earth’s forests to understand better their role in the global carbon cycle and climate change
the satellite lifted off aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou
Biomass successfully separated from the launch vehicle less than an hour after liftoff
ESA’s operations team in Germany received the first signal of the satellite
relayed via a ground station in Antarctica
confirming that it was functioning as expected in orbit
"Biomass will give scientists and climatologists unprecedented data on the state of the world’s forests
further enhancing the understanding of the climate cycle," said Alain Fauré
Head of Space Systems at Airbus Defence and Space
"The spacecraft is now safely in orbit and ready to deliver its precious data."
European Space Agency commissions world’s first space debris removal
Biomass will operate over a five-year mission
utilizing the first spaceborne P-band synthetic aperture radar to penetrate forest canopies and quantify woody biomass - the trunks
and stems where most forest carbon is stored
The mission aims to produce highly accurate maps of tropical
supporting estimates of carbon stocks and fluxes
and helping to reduce uncertainties surrounding land-use change and forest degradation
"Biomass now joins our esteemed family of Earth Explorers—missions that have consistently delivered groundbreaking discoveries and advanced scientific understanding of our planet," said Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programs
"We are poised to gain vital new data on how much carbon is stored in the world’s forests."
Forests absorb approximately 8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide annually
are releasing much of this stored carbon back into the atmosphere
Biomass will help scientists and policymakers assess these changes with unprecedented precision
Orion Space Solutions to support NOAA's digital twin program for earth observation
Biomass will support a variety of secondary objectives
including the detection of paleo aquifers in arid regions
contributing to ice sheet dynamics research
Its radar system will enhance Digital Elevation Models in dense forest zones and provide a new perspective on the Earth’s surface
More than 50 companies across 20 countries contributed to the development and testing of Biomass
ESA teams are currently overseeing the satellite’s commissioning phase
including deployment of its large radar reflector and calibration with a ground transponder located in New Norcia
Jamie Whitney joined the staff of Military & Aerospace Electronics and Intelligent Aerospace
He brings seven years of print newspaper experience to the aerospace and defense electronics industry
Whitney oversees editorial content for the Intelligent Aerospace Website
as well as produce news and features for Military & Aerospace Electronics
oversee print production of Military & Aerospace Electronics
and expand the Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics franchises with new and innovative content
4vs1Gardner-Webb
Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament5/2/2025 8:31:00 PM | Men's Tennis
The Demon Deacons will battle Kentucky on Saturday at 5 p.m
for a chance to advance to the Super Regionals
Saltwater is killing trees along low-lying coasts
This article originally appeared in Knowable Magazine
are appearing along the Chesapeake Bay on the United States’ mid-Atlantic coast
They are ghost forests: the haunting remains of what were once stands of cedar and pine
an ever-widening swath of these trees has died along the shore
These arboreal graveyards are showing up in places where the land slopes gently into the ocean and where salty water increasingly encroaches
in pockets of the west coast and elsewhere
saltier soils have killed hundreds of thousands of acres of trees
leaving behind woody skeletons typically surrounded by marsh
some will become marshes that maintain vital ecosystem services
such as buffering against storms and storing carbon
Others may become home to invasive plants or support no plant life at all—and the ecosystem services will be lost
Researchers are working to understand how this growing shift toward marshes and ghost forests will
Yet the transition from living forest to marsh isn’t necessarily a tragedy
Marshes are important features of coastal ecosystems
And the shift from forest to marsh has happened throughout periods of sea level rise in the past
an ecosystem ecologist and biogeochemist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh
“You would think of these forests and marshes kind of dancing together up and down the coast,” he says
Marshes provide many ecosystem benefits. They are habitat for birds and crustaceans
They are also a niche for native salt-tolerant plants
which provide food and shelter for animals
Marshes can also store hefty amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. The plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, while mucky sediments trap other carbon sources like dead leaves and small creatures. Along coastal rivers in southern Georgia, for example, brackish and salt marshes can sequester more carbon than the tidal forests they are replacing
Salt marshes also buffer inland ecosystems from storms along the sea
taking the brunt of heavy winds and storm surges
Recent research suggests that wide marshes help to prevent additional ghost forests by stopping some saltwater from sweeping into the forest
But not all salt marshes can replace a forest’s aptitude for sucking up carbon. Ardón has been studying the forests of North Carolina’s Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula. He found that these forests, which host rugged bald cypress, Atlantic white cedar, and a mix of deciduous hardwoods, stored more carbon than the wetlands that are beginning to overtake them
And marshes don’t always develop as trees die. When forests are inundated too rapidly, mudflats develop instead, and services from both trees and marshes are lost. Sometimes, invasive plant species move in before native marsh plants can take hold
“When a lot of these forests die back, instead of being replaced with a native salt marsh … what’s actually taking its place is a phragmites marsh,” says forest ecologist Stephanie Stotts of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, coauthor of the Annual Review of Marine Science article. One Phragmites subspecies is an invasive reed that rapidly takes over wetland habitats
Native animals aren’t adapted to eat these phragmites
so the reed’s prevalence could affect other creatures
Many ghost forests are expanding; Estimates suggest that since 1985, 11 percent of forest in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula has been converted to marsh; around 150 square miles of forest surrounding the Chesapeake Bay area have transitioned since the mid 1800s
would be to combat sea level rise and climate change
It still remains unclear how these coastal transitions will play out and whether
so the full impact of these forests’ becoming skeletons remains to be seen
This article originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a nonprofit publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to all. Sign up for Knowable Magazine’s newsletter
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Wake Forest Baseball Schedule Update5/3/2025 4:11:00 PM | Baseball
The Demon Deacons will conclude game one of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m
– The Gardner-Webb baseball team dropped a pair of one-run games at Wake Forest on May 3-4 at Couch Ballpark
GWU fell 4-3 extra innings contest in a suspended game on Saturday afternoon before dropping the nightcap by the final of 9-8 on Sunday
Game one saw the Runnin' Bulldogs get off to a quick start, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second following an RBI off the bat of Matt Ilgenfritz, scoring Nick Capozzi who had drew a leadoff walk
Wake came back with two runs of its own in the bottom of the third after Jimmy Keenan hit a solo shot followed by an RBI single Jack Winnay
The Deacs added a single run in the bottom of the sixth
Gardner-Webb was able to battle back and knot the score at 3-all with one run each in the seventh and eighth innings. Tanner Thomas went deep on an 0-1 count before Garrett Macias added a run-scoring hit up the middle, plating Lawson Knight
The game was suspended in the top of the ninth because of inclement weather and was resumed the next day
After both teams went scoreless in the ninth
Wake brought home the game-winning run after Ryan Preisano drew a bases loaded walk
The Runnin' Bulldogs once again struck first in game two, plating four runs in the top of the second, recording four hits in the at-bat. Capozzi came around to score after a sacrifice fly by Matt Ilgenfritz before three consecutive RBI hits staked the visitors to a four-run lead
Wake Forest came back with two runs in the third and three more in the fourth while taking its first lead of game two
that would be the last runs for GWU while the Demon Deacons tied the game with three runs in the sixth before taking game two with a single run in the eighth
Gardner-Webb returns to the diamond on May 9-11
traveling to High Point for a three-game set with the Panthers
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