Tree Huggers

• The year 2024 saw significant developments in tropical rainforest conservation, deforestation, and degradation. While progress in some regions provided glimmers of hope, systemic challenges and emerging threats highlighted the fragility of these ecosystems.

• Although a complete comparison of tropical forest loss in 2024 with previous years is not yet available, there are currently no indications that this year’s loss will be markedly higher. A sharp decline in deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon—partially offset by widespread forest fires—suggests the overall rate of loss may be lower.

• This analysis explores key storylines, examining the political, environmental, and economic dynamics shaping tropical rainforests in 2024.

An update on the classic Dept of Unauthorized Forestry video. Looks like a lot of the trees survived the grumpy HOA people after all!

• The Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo protects vast tracks of primary Congo Basin rainforest, and is a stronghold for endangered species including the iconic okapi (Okapia johnstoni) and African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis).
• The reserve is also the home to Indigenous Mbuti and Efe forest peoples, who depend on forest resources.
• Deforestation in the reserve remained high in 2023, and continued to spread this year, according to satellite data from the Global Forest Watch platform.
• Illegal artisanal and semi-industrial gold mining within the reserve is driving deforestation, poaching and environmental destruction.

The power imbalance in Brazil's government that keeps environmental protections and Indigenous rights under threat.

• A 2020 government decree that transferred administrative control of nonprotected forests in Sri Lanka to local governments has been formally revoked by the country’s new government.

• The move follows its overturning by the country’s Supreme Court, where environmental activists argued it could allow the release of these forests for development projects without proper environmental assessments.

• Known as “other state forests” (OSFs) or “residual forests,” they harbor high levels of biodiversity and serve as crucial connectivity or buffer zones that help reduce human-wildlife conflict.

• They could also play a key role in the government’s commitment to the 30×30 initiative of protecting 30% of land and sea area by 2030.

The trees were among 250 planted in mid-October by an army of young arborists, paid by Tree Trust for their efforts.

“We spent more than, I’m pretty sure, more than a week on that road,” explains Malick Jenke, among a half-dozen high school grads taking part in Tree Trust’s ‘Branches’ program.

The group of tree planters includes 25 high school students from St. Paul and the ‘Branches’ participants — most of whom are interested in pursuing a green career.

“One tree will take anywhere from a half hour to 45 minutes to get it completely planted, mulched and watered. In some cases, we have to stake those trees as well,” Zumach says.

She notes the value of the destroyed trees adds up to about $12,000, but the City of St. Paul says with labor and other expenses, the costs of the vandalism totals about $40,000.

A spokesperson says replanting the trees is a priority but noted planting season is pretty much at an end.

As promised, a more difficult nut for today!

I will give this one 3/5 difficulty.

Photo credit: Lior Golgher, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hint:

Answer and some fun facts about this nut:

Tune in tomorrow for more nutty knowledge!

Despite their drab color, I find these quite beautiful!

I expect this one will be fairly easy, so the next one I post will be a bit harder.

Need a hint?

. . .

Photo by Geo Lightspeed7 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Click here for source and answer.

Welcome to the challenge for November 9th which is the 3rd one so far after #8 and this post with the original idea.

Warning: Comments may contain spoilers, so only read them once you're ready.

Inspired by this post by @fossilesque@mander.xyz, @LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net proposed to turn that neat idea into a challenge series. It's not my idea, so feel free to post your own challenges here or in whatever community you find appropriate.

Now back to the game - let's see who'll be the fastest nutter of the day! ;)

Warning: The challenge has been solved already, so don't check the comments if you want to avoid spoilers.

Counteract the Bleakness of the Modern Urban Environment of rampant homelessness and over-priced housing by propagating and planting trees in neglected urban spaces. Tony Santoro shows you how with help from the Department of Unauthorized Forestry.

New research shows that, instead of replanting rainforests, allowing them to bounce back naturally would store loads of carbon and water.

The global push for biomass that can be burned for energy is causing concern about the price Indonesia's forests are paying.

Australia just overturned 20 years of case law to allow environmental groups to take corporations harming the environment to court.

Please crosspost to other communities which might be fitting.

Harvesting in Bulga state forest, inland from Port Macquarie, is just 400km from global nature-positive summit the government is hosting