Latest news with #forest
Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Science
- Telegraph
The bizarre trees that ‘milk' clouds and start lightning storms
Thanks to Harriet Rix and her sublime book, The Genius of Trees, I have seen and relished the world the day before the Chicxulub asteroid hit. I have smelled its perfumes, and squelched through its hot boggy litters, and dodged its foot-long dragonflies. And I have seen the day after, too, 'when all was darkness and confusion, mushrooms and rot'. Rix's book explains how over millennia, trees have shaped the earth and been shaped by it. (They allowed for the existence of those monster dragonflies by saturating the atmosphere with oxygen, for starters.) Trees thrived before Chicxulub, Rix tells us, but afterwards, their 'green shade became a grey gloom' as a dust cloud blotted out the sun for two years. The Amazon became a death zone. Gymnosperms – meaning pines and monkey puzzles – were utterly outmanoeuvred by flowers, which could survive by bouncing light about themselves between water droplets. (Through Rix's luminous descriptions, I pictured this as a microscopic pinball game played with light, where the winner inherits the Earth.) Her book is a dazzling series of lectures which explore how trees shape water, soil, fire, air, fungi, animals and people. Like an early Robert MacFaralane narrator, Rix refuses to put herself much in the picture, but through the scenes we glimpse an Indiana Jones figure who is both an eminent, travelling scientist and a born writer. She describes the 'stately galliards' of coniferous trees taking over after the asteroid's destruction. To Rix, they arrive in 'a mass tango, angular and fluid'. On the Canary island of La Gomera, we encounter trees that not only make clouds, but farm and milk them, seeding the air with compounds which cause water molecules to cluster around them, 'until like a small planet, it falls as rain'. She also travels to the environs of Quetta to look at the Ziarat junipers, guarded by Balochi rangers in one of the world's deadliest zones of human conflict. Here, wild ephedra is easily and popularly synthesised into methamphetamine (do you prefer your Taliban on opium or speed?) Rix is completing a spreadsheet on juniper carbon capture when she's reassured that she won't be kidnapped, as long as she visits their food market twice. And by the time we have watched the beautiful Zelkova abelicea on Crete turn red when the first frosts fall, and have paddled up the Curicuriari, an Amazon river, to meet a rare duraka tree, it becomes clear that Rix's world is astounding. There are some mountains in deep, rural China where 18 species of tree are currently in a pitched brawl, using poison, shade, theft, disease, fire, misdirection, brute force and lighting on each other. This is normal tree behaviour, and it's a salutary experience, having been near woods most days of my life, to realise that I had little idea what I have been looking at. In their battles, trees lace the air with flammable gases, strew kindling, douse everything in the pyromaniac's molecule, oxygen, and gather clouds to encourage lightning strikes, which they have put up conductors to catch. Then, whoosh: their competition is vaporised, their insect pests barbecued, their fungi put in their place, their seed children pre-fertilised (lovely ash) and suddenly, there's a lot more sunlight to eat. When you see Greek islands scorched, know there is a pine or eucalyptus somewhere rubbing its roots together. Trees can change 'their entire habit of growing in one or two generations'. We know when the land-bridge between Britain and Ireland went (the sunken kingdom of Cantre'r Gwaelod under Cardigan bay) because lime trees, spreading slower than pioneer species, did not make it out of Wales. The climate in Ireland tipped from Arctic to temperate in just 10 years. The book is often alarming but Rix is also funny. Oak die-back happens, in Rix's eyes, when the trees' 'farthest fungi' have 'lost their love of adventure, their passion for the quest'. You feel delightedly child-like, and not just while being shown how a member of the avocado family seeds a cloud with a hexagonal ring of carbon. The mysteries stalking science and Rix's pages are telling. We still do not know how trees' roots appear to be able to 'hear' or sense water. It might be vibration. What's the real evolutionary relationship between the Joshua Tree of the Mojave Desert, the giant sloth with the mushroom-alcohol body odour, and the sloth's on-board moth? Only time, and Harriet Rix, can tell. Non-fiction rarely sees a debut like The Genius of Trees. It is a true masterpiece.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Irreplaceable 6.5-hectare forest protected for future generations of Aussies
A speck of ancient forest, feared to be at imminent risk of destruction, is on the verge of being protected for future generations of Australians. Described as 'magical', the 6.5-hectare fragment of NSW Mid North Coast bush is remarkable because it remains intact and has never been harvested for timber. Earlier this month, conservationists were becoming increasingly concerned it could be bulldozed because a company owned by the NSW Government had earmarked the wider area for harvesting this year. Located at the edge of the 1,000-hectare Viewmont State Forest, the wilderness is blessed with towering eucalypts that are home to species threatened with extinction, including koalas and yellow-bellied gliders. Dailan Pugh, a spokesperson for the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA), said it's one of the region's 'last remaining coastal stands of intact forest'. Dr Stuart Blanch, conservation scientist at World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia (WWF), explained that some of these hollows that provide shelter for gliders would have taken 200 years or more to form. 'They're like gold. Stands of giant trees are far too priceless to be logged. They can't be replaced in our lifetime or our children's lifetime,' he said. Forest could be included in Great Koala National Park Government analysis indicates NSW is on track to lose 50 per cent of its threatened species in the next century, and its wild koalas will be wiped out in 25 years. While both koalas and yellow-bellied gliders are federally protected threatened species, state governments controversially have an exemption to log their habitat. While native forest logging has largely ceased on state-owned land in Victoria and Western Australia, the Minns Labor government continues to back the industry in NSW. And the state-owned Forestry Corporation is in charge of deciding which areas should be harvested. The 6.5 hectares of old-growth forest and the surrounding Viewmont State Forest are being considered to be part of the proposed 315,000-hectare Great Koala National Park (GKNP), a project Labor committed to before its election in 2023. The scheme would see a string of fragmented national parks joined together by protecting state-owned land that's currently subject to logging. Around 176,000 hectares of state forest are being assessed for inclusion in the park, which it is hoped will help slow the extinction of koalas in NSW. But in the meantime timber continues to be harvested from these areas, angering conservationists who have called for a moratorium until its borders are finalised. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe or Premier Chris Minns are yet to advise when the GKNP will be delivered. Questions to Sharpe's office from Yahoo News were redirected to her department, which said the GKNP 'will be delivered', although it did not specify when. 'There has been a comprehensive assessment process which considers environmental, economic, social, ecological and cultural issues,' it said in an email. 'All of the inputs are being finalised so government can create the park.' Experts frustrated by 'complex' forestry rules What's proving a challenge is understanding which parts of state forest are eligible to be logged. They want to ensure high-value forests aren't destroyed before the GKNP is created, as this could lessen its ability to protect koalas. The 6.5 hectares were not earmarked for protection until 2025, but it extends out of Bowraville Nature Reserve which was protected in the 1960s. Both areas have the same value to wildlife and the ecosystem. Even experts at large environmental groups like WWF-Australia and smaller outfits like NEFA find it a challenge to understand the state's harvest plans for these parks. Looking at a map alone is often not enough, and it has taken Yahoo weeks to establish whether the 6.5-hectare old-growth forest in Viewmont State Forest was protected in perpetuity. Part of the problem was that publicly available maps aren't scheduled to be updated for the area until late in 2025, even though decisions were internally made in January and February to retain it. Its protection won't be formalised until operations resume and Forestry Corporation returns to the area, which it said is 'subject to weather and logistical considerations'. Pugh argues this highlights the "frustration" he feels around "navigating the complexities of forestry regulations". "The situation is opaque, and it's often not clear to us what Forestry is doing," he told Yahoo. Call to bring mapping 'confusion' to an end Another problem is that complicated rules have evolved over decades of discussion between the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Forestry Corporation, multiple levels of government and the courts. And this has resulted in confusing regulations and jargon that only experts understand. For instance, the 6.5-hectare old-growth forest is marked in pink on maps as a 'non-harvest area', a designation that means it won't be immediately logged. The area is set to be reclassified as a 'tree retention clump' and marked in brown, and this will protect it in perpetuity. Although this doesn't cover the entire area, and some parts are only protected because they're inaccessible. Regulations are complicated when it comes to protecting wildlife, too. Under the regulations set by the EPA, it's not necessary for Forestry Corporation to search for endangered greater gliders at night in this area, even though they're a nocturnal species and not active during the day. However, elsewhere in the state, they have to be conducted after sunset, before harvesting can begin. Worrying environmental impact of common ingredient in $2 snack Incredible phone footage leads to rediscovery of lost species Australia called out for 'failing' two rare species facing extinction WWF believes the situation is 'complex' when it should be 'simple'. Blanch argues the only way to be confident forest in the area is protected, is for the government to follow through with its promise to create the GKNP. 'Only around 10 people can probably understand the details about the different map versions, classifications and interpretations of the pre-logging survey requirements,' he told Yahoo News. 'It's up to one person to bring this confusion to an end. And that's the Premier of NSW. He needs to declare the Great Koala National Park.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CM inspects ghats as Ganga's water level rises
Patna: CM Nitish Kumar on Saturday visited the JP Ganga Path by road and took stock of the rising water levels of the Ganges River alongside the state capital. During the inspection, the CM inspected the rising water levels from Kangan Ghat in Patna Sahib to Nasriganj Ghat in Danapur. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He asked the officials to remain fully alert in the areas along the Ganga and always stay prepared to handle any emergency. After inspecting the rising water levels of the river from the LCT Ghat on the JP Ganga Path, Nitish reached the NIT Ghat, where he gathered information from officials about the current situation of the water levels and the people living alongside the river's southern bank. From the NIT Ghat, the CM travelled via JP Ganga Path to Kangan Ghat, then to Digha Ghat, and finally to Nasriganj Ghat in Danapur to assess the rising water levels of the Ganga. During the inspection, the CM emphasised the continuous review of the conditions in the riverine areas of the Ganga, especially the lower regions, and to take necessary action immediately if needed to prevent any damage. "An increase in the water level of the Ganga has been recorded at several places, including Nasriganj Ghat and Gandhi Ghat, and the river's current is very strong," a communique issued by the chief minister's office (CMO) said. Earlier, Nitish inspected the park being developed by the department of environment, forest, and climate change (DoEFCC) on the JP Ganga Path. During the inspection, officials informed the CM that the park is 500 meters long and is located between LCT Ghat and Kurji Ghat. "This park is part of the Patna Smart City project and is being developed as a picnic spot. Its aim is to make the JP Ganga Path more scenic and appealing," officials told the CM. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Nitish instructed the officials to ensure that the park, situated along the banks of the Ganga, is developed with the safety and convenience of the public in mind. "The development of the park on the JP Ganga Path will enhance greenery and provide a place for visitors to spend time with their families," Nitish said and asked officials to complete the project at the earliest.
CBC
21 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Vancouver Islanders call for better access and environmental oversight of private forest lands
A survey by a private forest management company on Vancouver Island shows thousands of outdoor enthusiasts want better access to forest land — but an alliance of wilderness advocates is also raising concerns about environmental accountability. Mosaic Forest Management, which oversees roughly 550,000 hectares of privately owned forest land between Victoria, Sooke and Campbell River, reports that the survey received over 7,600 responses and the feedback was clear: open the gates. According to Mosaic's website, the company has over 20 gates on the Island that it can open and close to control recreational use — including those controlling access to popular hikes like Century Sam in Comox and Mount Arrowsmith near Port Alberni, and front-country camping sites like Nanaimo Lakes. Access to the areas is often limited to weekends between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Steve Mjaaland, Mosaic's manager of forest protection, says the company would like to enhance recreational access, but gate closures are often necessary for safety and to prevent wildfires. "It's a working forest. There are a lot of high-risk hazards, especially hauling on the roads, which would probably be the biggest risk with traffic," he said. Among those calling for better access: Jenn Holland, who currently chairs an alliance of almost 30 grassroots groups on the Island called the Vancouver Island Private Managed Forest Land Action Alliance. "There's gates everywhere and people can't get to beloved waterfalls or lakes or camping sites that they used to be able to access," she said. Holland says the issue goes beyond recreation. "We can't get in there, and we can't see what they're doing back there. We can't see if there's been a landslide. We can't see if a water course has been logged. We can't see that they've logged an entire watershed," she said. "It's not just access for recreation, but it's access for accountability that's missing." WATCH | Hikers call for greater access to the Island's backcountry: Hikers call out Mosaic Forestry for restricting access to Island's backcountry 16 days ago Passionate hikers are calling out Mosaic Forestry, the company responsible for managing much of the Island's backcountry areas, for restricting access to forest lands. The company says it's looking for ways to improve accessibility. Issue goes beyond the gates, say conservationists Holland says that while hiking access is something that the public can easily grasp, she's focused on bigger issues, like conservation, private forest landowners and the province, that go beyond Mosaic's control of the gates. Dave Weaver, a retired forestry worker who now volunteers with the Beaufort Watershed Stewards, one of the groups that make up the Vancouver Island Private Managed Forest Land Action Alliance, says he takes issue with the Private Managed Forest Land Program, which was established in 2003 under the Private Managed Forest Land Act. According to the province's website, the program works by setting out management objectives for forest landowners, who in turn develop management strategies most appropriate for their land. Weaver says the act sets a low bar for forestry practices, especially in comparison to regulations for public forest lands, which have more restrictions on harvesting and clearcuts, and greater requirements for public accountability. "We need to have these difficult conversations very soon, with all the parties involved — with the provincial government, with the landowners," he said. WATCH: Vancouver Island groups call for forestry reform on private land: Vancouver Island groups call for forestry reform on private land 1 day ago In 2019, the province undertook a review of the Private Managed Forest Land Act, where Weaver says extensive feedback was collected from the public, local government and First Nations. The province published its findings, which show there was a recurring theme of concern about the sustainability of forestry practices and the effects on things like watersheds on privately managed forest land — but Weaver claims no tangible change ever came from the review. In an emailed statement, the Ministry of Forests said it's working to modernize the act following the 2019 review, and that "many of the issues raised during the review are being addressed through the government's work to make sure forestry supports ecosystem values." But Weaver says he believes even that review would be out of date by today's standards and is joined by the alliance in calling on the province to undertake a new review. In a statement, Mosaic said it would be willing to work with community partners toward a sustainable strategy. "Mosaic supports enhanced collaboration between private forest landowners, First Nations, the Province, and communities to ensure responsible forest management plays a key role in BC's economic, reconciliation and climate strategies," said Karen Brandt, the senior vice president of public affairs and partnerships at Mosaic Forest Management.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
People left 'unsettled' after spotting 'ghost' hidden in group photo - so, can YOU see it?
A seemingly normal photo of a group of friends on holiday has been branded 'creepy' after people spotted a 'ghost' hidden in the snap. Reddit user who goes by the name CursedEmoji posted the snap online - saying their friend had sent them a picture of their trip to Chile. Upon first glance, it may seem as though there are a group of six people - four women and two men - posing for the snap while trekking in a forest. However, a less obvious, much darker looking face appeared to be lurking in the snap. After being shared online, people were quick to share how they were 'creeped out'. One wrote: 'Oof. That definitely made my heart jump when I finally found it.' Another penned: 'I thought it was about the top of a head behind the guy on the right. Oh yeah, I saw the witch too!' A third said: 'It was a completely normal picture before zooming in. It's a creepy picture with a very clear ghost face.' A fourth commented: 'Looks like someone's grandma is travelling with them,' while a fifth chimed in and added: 'Nah that actually scared me a bit.' Upon first glance, it may seem as though there are group of six people - four women and two men - who are posing for a selfie while trekking in a forest - but on further inspection, there appears to be a spirit lurking in the picture However, others questioned whether the picture was real, with some theorising that it might've been a camera glitch or even Photoshop. One wrote: 'Creepy! Seems a little too good to be true, though.' Another penned: 'That's absolutely Reagan from the exorcist photoshopped in, things like this sadly dampen paranormal photography.' A third said: 'Looks photoshopped to me, just too obvious. I saw it pretty quickly.' A fourth commented: 'Looks like a digital error of some kind. Face looks similar to the dude on the left.' This comes as a professional exorcist debunked movie myths and revealed which people are most likely to get possessed by 'demons'. Ralph Keeton, a medium and exorcist from Hull with more than 25 years of experience under his belt, went on the People Are Deep podcast to share his stories of apparently communicating with spirits. The interviewer on the show spoke about the 1973 supernatural film The Exorcist, which follows a young girl who has become possessed, after playing with an Ouija board. In one scene, she is filmed sitting up as her head spins around and she is also seen throwing up green vomit while having a violent fit - but this is an inaccurate depiction of a possession, according to Ralph. He said: 'It's much more of a natural phenomenon. On a very rare case is someone lifted or moved around a property. 'Most of the time, it's more physical things happening to a person. So it's like an object hitting you or a lesion coming onto your skin or mental breakdowns. 'It's things that are more common. That case with the film, I've never witnessed anything like that.' Ralph gave an example of one of his rarer cases where he dealt with a woman who had 'a sexual ghost attacking her'. He said: 'When you see fingerprints on skin, legs being pulled apart and lifted up and dragged, you can't tell me that's her doing it because we couldn't physically stop it. 'It was a case of me getting hold of her and then deciding what we were going to do. 'It's a hard concept for anyone to get their head around, because this type of stuff exists in CGI and films and things like that. When it's happening in real life, it's a whole new ball game.' During the chat, Ralph revealed that 'weak' individuals are the most likely to apparently get possessed as they will likely allow the spirit to take over their bodies. He said: 'You've got to be quite weak-willed for it to happen because you need to let someone take control of you. In most cases in life as a human being, you naturally go against that. 'I don't know about you, but when someone says "No" to me, I say "What do you mean, no?" But they will try and take over you.' The experienced medium said that it can be challenging to get rid of an energy once it has taken over someone's body. 'Once an energy is gone, it's like a bereavement. In half the cases I've dealt with, a lot of people are half expecting it to come back,' he added. 'Well if you're half expecting it back, you're half bringing it back again.
