Research news | 2024-01-12

More rain, fewer droughts — rainfall effects from targeted forestation can reduce climate change

By prioritizing targeted increases in rainfall, forestation programs may not only mitigate global climate change itself but also reduce its concrete negative effects such as droughts, new study finds

Research news | 2022-10-13

Scientific narratives risk reinforcing colonial structures in tropical forests

Rural forest communities are made the scapegoat for environmental destruction in tropical forests

Research news | 2022-08-05

Not only clear-cuts, but even forest degradation drives CO2 emissions

Further degradation of the Amazon rainforest can lead to enormous C02 emissions in the upcoming decades, unless it is halted soon, new study finds

Research news | 2022-08-04

Growing tree cover can boost or dwindle water availability

Tree restoration is a great way to mitigate climate change and store atmospheric carbon. But when trees are planted at a large scale, regional water availability can be seriously affected

Research news | 2022-03-20

Why forest restoration is more than just planting new trees

Niak Sian Koh tells us why it’s important that forest restoration policies respect indigenous people and local communities, and how insights from human rights law can help

Research news | 2022-02-22

Amid drought, trees’ ability to store water defines their resilience

Trees in the rainforest can increase their resilience to drought by improving the capacity of their roots to store moisture

Research news | 2021-11-23

Why forest owners should consider mixed forests or continuous cover forestry

Increased resilience to storms comes at the expense of private economic return, but forest owners of highly vulnerable land may profit from mixed forests and continuous cover forestry

Research news | 2021-10-25

Strong civil society crucial to halt destruction of the world’s tropical forests

What is needed - and often missing - is a shared transformational objective and priority to keep the forests standing

Research news | 2021-09-02

Uncovering the distal human and environmental impacts of China’s reforestation efforts

How and why national sustainability initiatives contribute to unsustainable global development

Research news | 2020-12-15

Reduced deforestation remains out of sight in the soy industry

Efforts by companies to implement sustainability strategies is hampered by reluctance to comply by actors in their supply chains due to complex barriers

Research news | 2020-10-27

The ability to deal with drought is crucial for the survival of rainforests

Study identifies thresholds for when rainforests in South America and Africa transition into savannas

Research news | 2020-10-09

Why panarchy can improve ecosystem management

A successful implementation of “panarchy” thinking in the US may boost reforms of environmental laws and policies

Research news | 2020-10-05

As emissions grow, more parts of the Amazon are likely to dry out

A larger part of the Amazon rainforest could cross a tipping point where it could become a savanna-type ecosystem than previously thought

Research news | 2020-09-16

In Indonesia, forest management collaboration remains frustratingly unbalanced

Community-based forest management has expanded rapidly, but attention to long-term sustainability is still elusive

Research news | 2020-06-29

Myths shape deforestation interventions, hindering progress

Researchers debunk five illusions about forests and forest management. With it comes the hope for change

Research news | 2020-06-21

Climate smart cocoa production in Ghana may not be all that smart

Production model promises triple wins for smallholders and the environment. That may be too good to be true

Research news | 2020-04-24

In Indonesia, community forestry is shaped by power dynamics

How "prophets” help mobilize necessary resources to initiate partnerships, and benefit from them

Research news | 2019-12-19

The bigger picture of deforestation in Latin America

Expansion of agriculture in Latin America has come at the cost of losing vast areas of forest. A new study brings together and compares case studies of land use change from the region

Research news | 2019-09-09

Eroding the resilience of tropical forests

Understanding the relationships between forest resilience and soil erosion in tropical forests affected by human and natural disturbances

Research news | 2019-06-10

Keeping nuances front and centre

A critical examination of four dominant narratives informing REDD+ design reveal both flawed and important assumptions