World Tree News

Custodian, thoughtful. © The African Biodiversity Network

Custodians of sacred sites in Africa unite

Traditional custodians of sacred sites met to create a guideline to respect and ensure the future of the children of humans and all species on Earth.

Martin Litton in his Cessna (2006). © Ricardo Dearatanha/Los Angeles Times

Environmental warrior still fighting at 95

At the age of 95 Martin Litton (with his vintage Cessna 195) is still the guarding eye and voice for the Giant Sequoia National Monument Park in California.

large buttressed tree in primary rainforest in Ecuador. © Dr. Morley Read/shutterstock.com

World’s biggest trees disappear

Worldwide long-term studies show that proportionally, the biggest and oldest trees of the world vanish more rapidly than the younger tree populations.

forest evaporation in Thailand. © Abdulroheem Lungleengo/shutterstock.com

Omission of forests’ impact renders climate models faulty

Pressure on the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) mounts to stop intentionally excluding tree canopy effects on measurements and climate modelling.

Forest Hero Shigeatsu Hatakeyama. © Ryo Murakami/UNU

Forests ‘activate’ coastal seas

The positive influence forests have on ocean ecology and biodiversity was put to good use by a Japanese oyster farmer who received a UN Forest Heroes Award.

sacred grove at Heggala Aiyappa, Western Ghats, India. © Claudia Rutte

Mapping sacred sites for their protection

To scientists from the universities of Oxford and of Basel started a database project to record Sacred Natural Sites for research and future conservation.