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When we think of the month of December, many things come to mind – a wintery time of year here in Maryland, a month filled with major cultural holidays and, of course, the ever-present evergreen tree. Not only is it a wonderful pop of color in a leafless sea of forests here in the Mideast,…

In the face of a changing climate and projected increases in urban population density over the coming decades, the preservation of urban tree canopy and the corresponding ecosystem services provided have become critically important considerations. A distinguishing feature of urban tree canopy is a variety of land ownership and, as a result, unequal management of…

On January 17, 2024, the Supreme Court heard a case that would decide the fate of the infamous Chevron doctrine that was established in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. In the Chevron case, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended its definition of a “stationary source” under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The Natural Resources…

Did you know that Maryland has it’s own “tropical” fruit that could be growing right in your backyard? The Pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba) is a fruiting tree found across the Eastern United States which produces large fruits which are not only edible, but delicious as well. In fact, the pawpaw produces the largest edible fruit…

The wildfire season in the United States broadly runs from spring until fall. Wildfires are a natural and beneficial component of many ecosystems. Wildfires reduce leaf litter, improve wildlife habitats, and even stimulate new forest growth (National Park Service 2011). Prescribed burns are intentionally set fires in order to prevent catastrophic fires that can happen…

Historically, fire was used as a tool by Native Americans to reduce understories and to purposely alter the landscape.  In the early 1900’s, fire became a hot topic in the U.S. due to wildfires.  Gifford Pinchot, considered the father of forestry as the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service, wanted to control and prevent…

Did you know that trees communicate with one another? Through a system of underground “information highways” conducted through fungal filaments, trees can send signals to one another, and even identify relationships with one another! In a well-connected forest, each day is like an extended family reunion. Similarly to humans, trees which have been around the…

What is silviculture and why is it an important aspect of forestry? Silviculture is the art and science of cultivating trees in a forest for ecological and economical advantage.  It is the controlling of a forest based on establishment, structure, composition, and growth.  There are six main principles of silviculture which include the imitation of…

  It’s that time of year when roads are treated and salted in preparation for ice and snow. While road salt can help prevent collisions and allow safer travel in the winter, there is a great cost to us and our environment when using it. Road salts are most commonly made from sodium chloride, and…

On August 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. This act is the most significant action Congress has taken on clean energy and climate change in the nation’s history. This act aims to curb inflation by reducing the budget deficit and investing into clean energy. The US Forest Service…

Imagine being able to grow and harvest your own food, but only having to use a fraction of the resources and maintenance required in conventional farming, as nature does the heavy lifting. I recently visited Forested, a local food forest located in Bowie, MD and it was a fascinating and eye-opening experience. Situated in the…

Amidst the escalating impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, urgent solutions are imperative. A promising strategy gaining prominence involves restoring land tenure rights to Indigenous Peoples. For centuries, Indigenous communities sustainably and holistically managed natural resources through Traditional Ecological Knowledge, an adaptive body of knowledge accumulated through observations of an ecosystem, passed down by…