A new study has unveiled the far-reaching ecological impact of wolves and other large carnivores in Yellowstone National Park.

Kazakhstan’s Halyk Ormany reforestation program aims to plant 9 million trees, including in Semey Ormany, where wildfires destroyed more than 60,000 hectares in 2023.

Explore how shrubs help or hinder forest recovery after wildfires and the best strategies for reforestation.

Sea urchins don’t understand predators the way we do. They have no brains, no hearts – just raw instinct. When a sunflower sea star approaches, they don’t need complex reasoning to sense danger – they simply steer clear. This is...

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BEIJING -- Chinese and international scientists have uncovered a significant deterioration in global forest recovery capacity following large-scale wildfires in the 21st century, with less than one-third of affected forests able to regenerate within seven years after the fire. Published...

Shrubs are a key factor in the challenging task of restoring forests after catastrophic wildfires. Beyond planting new tree seedlings, it’s essential to determine when and where to plant for the best chance of success. Recent research from the University...

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 29, 2026 New research conducted on Palmyra Atoll, one of the most remote and ecologically intact islands on Earth, has found that native soil fungi are essential to the regeneration of indigenous rainforest following the removal of invasive coconut palm plantations. The study, published in the journal Current Biology, shows that restoring native Pisonia grandis trees - the backbone of Palmyra and hundreds of other atolls worldwide - requires more than clearing introduced palms. The right underground fungal partners must also be present for forest recovery to succeed. Palmyra Atoll sits roughly halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa. Native forests were cleared and replanted with coconut palms as early as the 1850s, and U.S. military activity during World War II further transformed the landscape and likely introduced black rats, which devastated seedlings, bird hatchlings, and crab populations. After The Nature Conservancy and partners eradicated the rodents in 2011, Pisonia seedlings and land crabs returned across the atoll in large numbers. By the time fungal researchers arrived in 2022, crews had removed approximately 1.5 million coconut palms and the atoll was undergoing a visible recovery. "It reveals a hidden dependency at the heart of an entire ecosystem,"...

The article examines the long-term ecological impact of the 2019-20 Black Summer megafires in the Blue Mountains region of Australia. While three years of above-average rainfall initially suggested recovery, research reveals that certain ecosystems, particularly rainforests and grassy woodlands, have not fully recovered. Scientists studied seven severely burnt plant communities and found that wet sclerophyll forests showed some regrowth within five years, but rare rainforests and dry grassy woodlands remained devastated. The study highlights how post-fire conditions—especially rainfall patterns—affect recovery trajectories. For example, heavy rains after the fires hindered the re-establishment of drought-adapted grasses, while species like eucalypts require longer to regenerate. Modeling suggests that prolonged drought would have worsened outcomes, with wet forests and wetlands facing five times greater decline. The findings underscore the need for tailored fire management strategies as climate change increases wildfire risks, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and protecting vulnerable ecosystems.

The Rursee region, nestled in the heart of the Eifel National Park, offers a panoramic vista that is both breathtaking and serene. The expansive lake, surrounded by lush forests and rolling hills, is ...

Abstract. The soil seed bank (SSB) is a crucial component of ecosystem resilience, particularly with regard to facilitating natural regeneration following

A new study coauthored by Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies ecologist Sarah Batterman estimates that if recovering tropical forests had enough nitrogen in their soils, they might absorb up to an add...

In the Redwood Mountain Grove of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, tens of thousands of giant sequoia seedlings and saplings have emerged after the devastating 2021 KNP Complex fire. While the mature sequoias in some areas were almost entirely killed, the forest floor is now covered with new growth ranging from knee-high seedlings to chest-high saplings. Scientists and park managers are divided over the future of these young trees. One perspective predicts many will die due to drought, climate change, and past fire suppression, advocating for active human intervention such as planting and thinning. Another viewpoint argues that sequoias have naturally survived high-intensity fires for millennia, and that most seedlings will naturally thin out as a few strong individuals grow into mature giants. This debate highlights the tension between conservation strategies that rely on human management and those that prioritize natural ecological processes. The outcome of the grove's regeneration is uncertain, with questions about how many seedlings are necessary to replace the iconic giants lost in recent fires. The article illustrates the complexity of managing ancient forests in a changing climate and underscores the need for careful consideration of ecological dynamics.

Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) has launched a Reforest Tokenisation model aimed at turning Thailand’s natural capital into part of the digital economy, beginning with a pilot project covering more than 10,000 rai in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Tak in partnership with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage. The model is designed to use digital technology and blockchain to connect the economic value of forest restoration and conservation with a transparent and verifiable system. According to CP Group, the Mae Fah Luang Foundation is the first partner under the initiative and will help develop a new value-creation model for conservation that can generate income for forest communities while supporting the wider development of Thailand’s natural capital economy. Carbon credits will be merely the starting point for the scheme, before the model is expanded to cover broader forms of natural capital, including ecosystems, biodiversity, water resources and the value created by communities that protect forests. Drawing on field experience in Nan province with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, Suphachai said effective conservation was not only about planting trees, but also about enabling people to live with forests in balance, with better quality of life and sustainable livelihoods. He...