#Science | US Forest Service

Indicator 1.08: Population Levels of Selected Representative Forest-Associated Species to Describe Genetic Diversity, 2017

Text that reads "Forest Sustainability Indicator Report"

Some forest species support or rely heavily on particular forest structures, patterns, associations, and processes and can therefore be used to describe the status of genetic diversity in forests. This indicator report, tiered to the 2030 National Report on Sustainable Forests, provides information on the population status of selected forest-associated species that reflect the genetic diversity present in forest ecosystems.

#Sustainability, #Biology, #Genetics, #Science

New tool can keep communities safe during floods and storms

Hurricane Helene overwhelmed culverts, triggering erosion, moving debris, and ultimately causing many to fail. Few places in Georgia were hit harder than the Tallulah River watershed in the Chattahoochee section of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.Hurricanes and other severe storms continue to put a strain on infrastructure, threatening community access and increasing emergency costs. The…

#Science, #Erosion, #HurricaneDamage, #Culvert

Indicator 1.07: Number and Geographic Distribution of Forest-Associated Species at Risk of Losing Genetic Variation and Locally Adapted Genotypes, 2003–2014

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Forest-associated species and infraspecies are increasingly vulnerable to genetic erosion as their geographic ranges shrink. A reduction in genetic variation makes species less adaptable to environmental change, increases the risk of extinction, and lowers the overall resilience of forest ecosystems. This indicator report, tiered to the 2030 National Report on Sustainable Forests, evaluates the number and distribution of such taxa by comparing their current ranges with historical baselines.

#Sustainability, #Genetics, #ThreatenedAndEndangeredSpecies, #Research, #Science

Indicator 6.39: Area and Percent of Forests Used for Subsistence, 2013–2023

In the United States, subsistence rights are codified through Federal laws, State constitutions, and Federal treaties with Tribal Nations and Canada. These bodies of legislation protect subsistence rights in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest (States of Washington and Oregon), Hawaii, and the Great Lakes region (States of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan). This indicator report, tiered to the 2030 National Report on Sustainable Forests, summarizes the area and percentage of forests in these States used for subsistence activities and describes changes since 2010.

#Sustainability, #Science, #Research, #Hunting

The Joy and Science of Fall Colors

Photo: Adobe Stock Why Leaves Light Up the LandscapeEvery autumn, forests across the country burst into flames—not with fire, but with color. Brilliant reds, glowing golds, and warm ambers sweep across the trees, turning even the simplest walk into a wonderland. But behind this dazzling…

#FallColors, #Science, #Seasons, #Fall, #Trees, #Scenic, #October, #TreeScience

Guard the toads, save the environment

A beige toad with brown spots sits in a black gloved hand.

“Toad!” yelled a deep voice from across the stream. With gloved hands, the volunteer excitedly lifted an adult toad from the riverbank then carefully slipped it into a clear sandwich bag. He was one of several volunteers who had spent their morning trudging through greenery and slogging through mud while looking for just this toad…