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The global map of tree density at the square-kilometer pixel scale. Credit: Crowther, et al A new Yale-led study estimates that there are more than 3 trillion trees on Earth, about seven and a half times more than some previous estimates. But the total number of trees has plummeted by roughly 46 percent since the start of human civilization, the study estimates. Using a combination of satellite imagery, forest inventories, and supercomputer technologies, the international team of researchers was able to map tree populations worldwide at the square-kilometer level. Their results, published in the journal Nature, provide the most comprehensive...

Hope you like increasing prices, everyone! #ForTheMiddleClass https://twitter.com/WSJPolitics/status/627796768328183808 … It’s not like Americans weren’t warned. All in the name of fighting “climate change,” of course. Has that ever really been a barrier for this administration?

A township view 200 years in the making has changed, after a historic tree town officials thought was protected by municipal ordinance was lawfully cut down by a developer. The swamp white oak tree at 29 Ocean Street had been designated a "bicentennial tree" in Millburn – one that town officials believed to be at least 200 years old. It was one of 23 trees designated as such in the town's 2014 Environmental Resource Inventory Report. The township had an ordinance prohibiting the removal of the historical trees, and named trees to the protected list via resolutions. "I looked at...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Road crews spent hours cutting a delivery truck out of a tree Wednesday afternoon. The truck came down next to the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 near the Old St. Augustine Road exit near Baptist Medical Center South.

et out the cigars—Methuselah, a Judean date palm tree that was grown from a 2,000 year old seed, has become a papa plant. Elaine Solowey, of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at Kibbutz Ketura in Israel, recently broke the good news to National Geographic: “He is over three meters [ten feet] tall, he's got a few offshoots, he has flowers, and his pollen is good," she says. "We pollinated a female with his pollen, a wild [modern] female, and yeah, he can make dates." Methuselah sprouted back in 2005, when agriculture expert Solowey germinated his antique seed. It had...

... The book’s title is Mr. Harari’s reminder that, long ago, the world held half a dozen species of human, of which only Homo sapiens—thee and me—today survives. The trajectory of our species, Mr. Harari says, can be traced as a succession of three revolutions: the cognitive revolution (when we got smart), the agricultural revolution (when we got nature to do what we wanted), and the scientific revolution (when we got dangerously powerful). Humanity, Mr. Harari predicts, will see one more epochal event. We will vanish within a few centuries, either because we’ve gained such godlike powers as to become...

A harmless symbol of Christmas cheer was once deemed so risky that the FDA had to regulate it. Tinsel once contained lead, which, as scientists realized in the 1960s, made it dangerous to kids. That prompted a deal between the FDA and tinsel makers to alter manufacturing methods, the American Chemical Society reports in a video. The 1972 change was at first kept secret, Popular Science reports, for fear “that many people preferring the lead variety would stockpile it,” an official said at the time. Believe it or not, that wasn’t the first time tinsel had posed a threat: One...

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BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – An unusual marriage took place on Sunday in Bogotá. Dressed in a white suit and a red tie, Richard Torres, a young environmentalist from Peru, sealed his love for a tree in a symbolic act meant to emphasize the importance of preserving nature. "I declare you life partners and forever in pure love, on behalf of the elements of nature and of God " said Colombian actress Kristina Lilley, who performed the ceremony on Bogota's National Park. The participants, some with musical instruments in hand, threw rice at the newlyweds and demanded in chorus: " Kiss, kiss,...

Block Communications Inc. said it will lay off 136 people at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and 131 at the Blade of Toledo, a decision that will help cut costs at the two money-losing dailies where the company has been wrangling with unions for more than a year over concessions. [snip] Negotiations with the unions over a new contract have been ongoing for a year, with Block asking for wage and benefit concessions after years of losses. In March, members of the Newspaper Guild “celebrated” their 3,000th day without a raise with a pie party in the newsroom. Block told employees in...

Klahoose carving settles question of territory A face carved into a tree trunk was discovered by forestry workers in a remote location up Toba Inlet. It had been staring down an ancient river valley in the rainforest for almost 200 years. The recent chance discovery was made approximately 60 miles up the inlet and helped to silence a question of doubt regarding the geographic limits of Klahoose First Nation traditional territory. Two employees of Fireball Contracting Ltd., Rob Reynolds and Keith McCrea, were working in a cutblock and turned around to discover the carved face. Klahoose Forestry Limited Partnership manager...

Golf’s most famous pine tree is no longer guarding the 17th hole at Augusta National Golf Club. The Eisenhower Tree suffered major damage in an ice storm and was removed over the weekend, the club confirmed Sunday. Photos showed major limb damage, particularly on the left side and top of the tree. “The loss of the Eisen­hower Tree is difficult news to accept,” Augusta National and Masters Chairman Billy Payne said in a prepared statement. “We obtained opinions from the best arborists available and, unfortunately, were advised that no recovery was possible.” The Masters landmark, also known as Ike’s Tree,...

It seems that those who favor the all or nothing inclusion of December symbols in the annual display in front of the municipal building have been successful in making that happen. Over the weekend - with it still unclear if the lighted tree is to be called a "Christmas tree" or a "Holiday tree" - a crèche and an atheist sign were added to the display. Meanwhile the official name for the lighted tree in the display remains an issue for some. Resident Tim Wagner and others said they will continue to press for administrative action to call the "Holiday...

FULL TITLE: Real-life grinch: Woman caught on camera stealing a Christmas tree from a CARE HOME for vulnerable people A woman has been caught on CCTV allegedly stealing a Christmas tree from a care home. Police are searching for the 'callous' woman who was captured on camera walking into sheltered accommodation for vulnerable adults in Camberwell, south-east London. She was caught on CCTV on the evening of December 16 after she had pretended to be visiting someone who did not know her. Scroll down for video

 The Jesse Tree  The Jesse Tree helps us connect the custom of decorating Christmas trees to the events leading to Jesus' birth. The Jesse Tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot shall come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Jesse was the father of King David. We adorn a Jesse Tree with illustrated ornaments that represent the people, prophesies, and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. The ornaments of the Jesse Tree tell the story of God in the Old Testament, connecting the Advent season with the...

An environmental activist “married” a tree in Argentina. Dressed in a crisp white suit and blue hat, Richard Torres carried a bouquet as the wedding party approached his "bride-to-be” in one of the capital's main parks on Sunday. The Peruvian actor and activist read vows and was given a ring. He even gave the tree a kiss to keep the ceremony authentic. Torres said the spectacle was intended to draw attention to environmental issues. While this is the actor's first ecological event outside of Peru, he said it's the start of his championing of the environment and plans to take...

So you want to bear hunt in Alberta, Canada?? Better pack extra underwear!!

<p>Shaun Paul Williams, 34, was found by deputies as he was walking on the side of the roadway nude and disoriented, the sheriff’s report said.</p> <p>A North Florida man is recovering after being beaten, robbed, forced to strip naked and abandoned during his first date with “Tree,” a woman he had recently met at a convenience store, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.</p>

Legislation that would move the ownership and management of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands in New Mexico to the state has been introduced at the Roundhouse. The Transfer of Public Lands Act is sponsored by Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-Alamogordo, and Sen. Richard C. Martinez, D-Espanola... Herrell said New Mexico has a rich history of farming, ranching, hunting, fishing and oil drilling. "In our past we have also had a thriving timber industry that is unfortunately near nonexistent ... ... A healthy timber industry, managed responsibly by New Mexicans, would not only help our economy by creating...

The Cohen family was on very good terms with their Roman Catholic neighbours, the O'Briens. In fact, little Yaakov Cohen and Christopher O'Brien from next door would play together from time to time. Or at least they used to. Well, one late December's day, Duncan O'Brien came storming in to the Cohen's house holding poor Yaakov by the ear. "Your son is not going near my Chris again; he just has no respect for us and our religion!" "What's the matter; what did he do?" enquired Mr. Cohen. "I'll tell you" said Duncan "he saw our Christmas tree and started...