The word for world is forest

The importance of protecting the Earth’s remaining forests and planting more trees has been underlined by a new report on the phenomenal ability of plants to pull carbon from the atmosphere.

By gum

As climate change intensifies, city planners are looking for resilient street trees able to provide cooling shade in a hotter climate such as the Spotted Gum.

Spare the trees to save the planet

Halting deforestation has advantages that stretch well beyond the climate, including protecting biodiversity and securing clean water.

Protecting the trees in our cities

Australia’s cities are a hive of development, and amenity trees are often the first casualty, but Melbourne’s experience shows that their loss can at least be minimised if vigilance is maintained.

Urban forest or concrete jungle?

Melbourne’s council wants a greener city to counter the effects of climate change, but it also promotes higher density for new housing, with ever bigger apartment blocks and smaller gardens. Is there any way to square the circle?

Help solve the snow gum murder mystery

Researchers from The Australian National University are asking the public to help investigate a phenomenon that’s killing Australia’s iconic snow gums.

More urban trees will help combat climate change

We all need to plant more trees to beautify our grey cities and cool our suburbs during heatwaves but the right species must be chosen to tolerate the heat and lack of water in urban areas affected by climate change.

A woody meadow blooms in the heart of the city

A unique research project by the Universities of Melbourne and Sheffield aims to grow urban meadows that are as tough as they are beautiful.

Planting trees to save the planet

Restoring the world’s forests on an unprecedented scale may be the best climate change solution available. Covering 900m hectares of land with trees could store up to two thirds of the carbon that humans have released into the atmosphere.

Hedging against climate change

Researchers from Macquarie University and Western Sydney University have assessed whether the trees that characterise our urban landscapes will be resilient to our changing climate over the next 50 years.

A million urban trees for Melbourne should be just the start

Trees and green spaces are essential for urban sustainability and liveability, but so is planting the right things in the right places. Urban planners must make more room for trees and we must cherish the mature ones we have as well as planting more saplings.

Why tropical trees die

Scientists have shed light on tropical tree deaths – with results predicted to have important implications for managing forest biodiversity.