Author: Site Owner

By Eric Sprague, Director of Forest Conservation

Just before Christmas last December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) posted cat photos on their website. While everyone loves cat photos, they aren’t exactly noteworthy in their own right. Except, these were not your typical cat photos.

Biologists from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) stumbled upon an ocelot den site, where they observed a three-week-old male kitten. Credit: USFWS

Biologists at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas displayed photos of a three-week-old male ocelot kitten found in the first confirmed den on the refuge in 20 years. Given there are only around 50 endangered ocelots known to still roam the Lower Rio Grande Valley, this is great news.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is the fertile, river delta for the Rio Grande River. The combination of climate, vegetation and associated wildlife create an ecosystem unlike any other in America. The local Texas thornscrub vegetation (Tamaulipan thornscrub) is characterized by dense and diverse brush that provides habitat for many plant and wildlife species including 530 birds, 300 butterflies, and 1,200 plants. Nearly 20 of these species are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act including the ocelot. The endangered ocelot is a Texas thornscrub specialist, using the dense forest to hunt and protect its family.

However, this diverse and distinctly Texan habitat is under threat. Since the 1920s, 95 percent of Texas thornscrub forest coverage in this area has been cleared for agriculture and development. The thornscrub forest type is recognized as an endangered habitat under the Texas Organization for Endangered Species. Most of what remains is in fence rows, highway rights-of-way and canals. Sprawling development and other competition for land continue to limit available breeding habitat and connecting corridors that allow safe passage.

There is no denying that Texas populations of ocelot are in trouble. Yet, with increased restoration on public and private lands, international cooperation and implementation of other conservation strategies like structures that allow ocelots to safely cross under roads, one of America’s iconic cats can persist in South Texas.

American Forests is committed to supporting these long-term efforts through our new Wildlands for Wildlife initiative. This year, American Forests’ is partnering with the USFWS to restore nearly 300 acres of Texas thornscrub habitat. This work kick-starts a five-year plan to accelerate restoration in three main wildlife corridors in the Lower Rio Grande Valley:

American Forests and the USFWS are targeting Texas thornscrub restoration work in three wildlife corridors in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Rio Grande River Corridor
The Lower Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge was created to transform fragmented agricultural lands back into a single connected wildlife corridor. Since 1986, the refuge has restored 12,750 acres of native trees. Restoration along the river in Starr, Hidalgo and Cameron Counties is important to the long-term recovery of the ocelot and provides multiple other ecosystem benefits to local and migratory birds and butterflies, multiple plant speciess and watershed health.

Coastal Corridor
The Coastal Corridor runs adjacent to Laguna Madre in Cameron and Willacy counties. The corridor includes a mix of protected lands highlighted by the Laguna Atascosa NWR and private lands. Restoration efforts continue to create the dense thornscrub required by this cat.

Northern Ranchland Corridor
The largest population of ocelots remaining in Texas reside in this corridor. The cats roam over several private ranches in Willacy and Hidalgo County although most have been found on one just north of Laguna Atascosa NWR. Given the culture and prominence of family ranches in the northern corridor, private lands restoration is the main conservation strategy.

Vote for the Lower Rio Grande Valley

Do you live in or near the Lower Rio Grande Valley, or simply find the ocelot captivating? Then vote today or by 10:00 a.m. EDT on April 26, and the winning region will receive an additional $10,000 project investment in 2018!

Vote for your favorite wildlife

By Sydney Straschnov, American Forests

It is evident that even from a young age, children are impacted by what they see on television and in movies, which often hold important life lessons or messages that stay with a child as they grow up. We’ve showcased 10 movies that can inspire the next generation to appreciate nature and the environment and foster a desire to protect our planet — a vital course of action if global conservation efforts are to continue in the future.

The list starts with G-rated films perfect for younger audiences and ends with PG-13 movies for teenage children.

By Robyn Gillum, American Forests

Hello from the newest intern addition to the American Forests’ team! I’m very excited to begin my work as a policy intern here, but first, a little bit about myself.

I feel so lucky to call California, the land of the endless forests from the inland Sierra Nevada to the coastal redwood forests, my home. Growing up at the base of the foothills only an hour outside of Tahoe meant that the forest was always within reach. But I’ll be honest, as a child I took advantage of these opportunities and never realized just how good I had it.

Almost every summer of my childhood, my family would pack all of our stuff into our car, load up the boat, and head to the sparkling Huntington Lake in the Sierra Nevada, where we would spend the weekend sailing and soaking up the mountain sunshine. At night we would camp under the canopy of trees and gaze up at the stars peeking through the branches. To this day, we still make the same trip as a family every summer, but the trip has recently started to become a worrying one.

Most of you are probably aware of the drought that California has recently faced, but what many are not aware of is the damage it has caused to our forests. Weakened trees, thirsty for water, have succumbed to the pine beetle epidemic that has swept throughout California. The U.S. Forest Service has estimated that since 2010, over 102 million trees have died across California’s forests alone. Each year while making the drive up through the mountains, I have noticed larger swaths of the beautiful forests turning from the typical green to a sickly red color.

In a state that is no stranger to devastating wildfires that sweep through the state each summer, the red forests serve as a warning of what is to come. And though it breaks my heart that these childhood forests may end up decimated by fire to clear away the infestation of beetles, it is uplifting to know that American Forests has successfully helped restore forests also burdened by pine beetles and wildfire through the American ReLeaf program, to create healthy new forests for future generations to enjoy.

When I started taking classes at the University of California, San Diego three years ago, I knew that I wanted to learn the science behind the forest ecosystems that surrounded me as a child, but I had no idea how I could go about helping them. By chance, I took a policy course and realized this was my opportunity to contribute to the fight to conserve our forests.

I’m honored have the opportunity to share the important role that forests play in the future of our nation. It is not enough to simply know the facts to understand the need to conserve our forests, which is why I urge you to experience the allure of forests for yourself: Wse your lunch break to relax in an urban oasis or take a spontaneous weekend trip to your nearest state or national park. However you choose to do so, get involved!

By Eric Sprague, American Forests

For tens of millions of years, the Hawaiian Islands have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of Pacific Ocean, with the nearest continent 2,000 miles away. Because of this isolation, the Hawaiian Islands developed unique forest ecosystems that resulted in an incredible amount of biodiversity. With 90 percent of land-based plants and animals occurring nowhere else, the Islands have the highest percentage of endemic species in the world.

The signature tree of the Hawaiian Islands is a great example of Hawaiʻi’s diversity. The early ancestor of the ʻōhiʻa lehua tree quickly adapted to the varied habitats present on the Islands. Today, the ʻōhiʻa lehua can be found at sea level as one of the first colonizers on new lava flows and at the limit where trees can survive at over 8,000 feet above sea level. It can also be found in poor soils at the edges of bogs and in the wettest rainforests in the world. In these various environments, the tree can occur as a shrub or a 100-foot-tall tree. The ʻōhiʻa lehua has adapted so well that it is the most abundant and widespread tree making up 80 percent of Hawaiʻi’s forests.

The ‘i’iwi, or scarlet honeycreeper, has seen the steepest decline of any honeycreeper in recent decades. Credit: Caleb Slemmons

The nectar-producing flowers of the ʻōhiʻa lehua are favored by many species among the spectacularly diverse Hawaiian honeycreepers. The ancestors of these birds were likely from a single species that, like the ʻōhiʻa lehua, quickly adapted to exploit different habitats, which produced great diversity in bill size, bill shape and color. For example, the Maui parrotbill (kiwikiu) uses its parrot-like bill to strip bark and break branches to search for insect larvae and the scarlet honeycreeper (ʻiʻiwi) uses its long decurved bill to feed on nectar.

Yet, this spectacularly unique and diverse flora and fauna is under threat. Within the last few hundred years, the loss of habitat and widespread distribution of nonnative plants and animals have wreaked havoc on Hawaiian forests and the wildlife that call them home, making Hawaiʻi the “extinction capital of the world.” While comprising less than one percent of the Unites States’ land mass, 40 percent of all plant and animals listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. are found in Hawaiʻi.

The status of Hawaiian honeycreepers and the ʻōhiʻa lehua are tied to these trends. Today, less than half of the 51 formerly known honeycreepers are still found in Hawaiian forests. There are only around 500 Maui parrotbills remaining and the scarlet honeycreeper has seen the steepest decline of any honeycreeper in recent decades. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death is a new fungal disease that can kill trees within days. The loss of this tree will transform Hawaiian forests.

Hawaiian forests, host to a variety of endemic plant and animal species, face multiple threats. Credit: Bernard Spragg

Restoration efforts through our Wildlands for Wildlife initiative are aimed to help these evolutionary wonders recover and thrive in Hawaiian forests once again. This year, American Forests is partnering with the Hawaiian Forest Institute to restore native forest by removing invasive weeds and planting native plants at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center’s Discovery Forest. The Center and Discovery Forest are part of a restoration and education project, which seeks to engage young people in forest stewardship learning opportunities and forge connections between science and native Hawaiian culture. The connection between forests and people will be critical to maintaining support for restoration.

By Doyle Irvin, American Forests

Now more than ever it is important to protect and safeguard the natural world that we hold dear. It has become increasingly important to us just how vital a contribution we at American Forests can make, and are making, towards the animals and wildernesses that make this planet a beautiful place to live. We are thus proud to announce our new initiative, Wildlands for Wildlife.

Over the course of Earth Month we will be detailing this program with regular updates about each of the seven ecosystems that the Wildlands for Wildlife projects address, including reports from our forest conservation staff. These projects are mission driven to approach ecosystems in a holistic manner, taking into account all of the various factors that come into play in each respective region. Ecosystems are not homogenous, and what works in one place will not work in another. The solutions to the problems that they face are not simple, and require multiple approaches to solve.

A red-cockaded woodpecker. Credit: Francesco Veronesi

For example, in the longleaf pine forests, keeping the red-cockaded woodpecker from teetering over the brink towards extinction requires not just tree planting but also nest cavity building, bird translocation, prescribed burns and regular monitoring by qualified biologists. Similarly, over in West Virginia, our restoration projects at former mining sites require invasive species removal and the tilling of unyielding compacted soils, before we can plant the native tree species that will restore the habitat to its natural state. It is only then that the native wildlife, like the populations of salamander species unique to this region, can become fully healthy.

It is this kind of “bigger picture” approach that really defines Wildlands for Wildlife. How can we work with partners to restore an ecosystem to its most robust? How can we ensure that the native wildlife not just survives, but thrives? What steps do we have to take to ensure these habitats are protected and conserved for decades to come?

These are the questions we kept in mind while designing this program. We have identified seven major regions across the United States, and the important work that needs to be done in each. The projects all focus on wildlife species that are endangered and require serious help. The seven critical forest ecosystems that Wildlands for Wildlife will restore are as follows:

Southeastern U.S.
Tactics: tree planting, prescribed fire, endangered species translocation, conversion of tree plantations
Themes: endangered species, biodiversity, water
Trees: longleaf pine forest ecosystems
Focal Wildlife Species: gopher tortoise

Central Appalachians
Tactics: tree planting, mine land reclamation
Themes: biodiversity, carbon storage, rural communities
Trees: red spruce forest ecosystems, oak systems in lowlands
Focal Wildlife Species: West Virginia northern flying squirrel

Northern Great Lakes
Tactics: tree planting, creation of early successional habitat, invasive species control
Themes: endangered species, recreation, wildfire
Trees: Jack and red pine forest ecosystems
Focal Wildlife Species: Kirtland’s warbler

Hawaiian Islands
Tactics: tree planting, habitat enhancement, invasive plant removal, non-native predator control, endangered species translocation
Themes: biodiversity, endangered species, water
Trees: ʻōhiʻa lehua forest ecosystems, including koa, mamane and iliahi
Focal Wildlife Species: Hawaiian honeycreepers and other endangered forest birds

Northern Rockies and Cascades
Tactics: tree planting, expand programs to cultivate whitebark pines that are resistant to blister rust, protect rust-resistant trees
Themes: endangered species, recreation, water
Trees: whitebark pine
Focal Wildlife Species: grizzly bear

Sierra Nevada Mountains
Tactics: tree planting, sustainable forest management (i.e. thinning dense forests to lessen wildfire risk and promote tree growth) and prescribed fire
Themes: wildfire, water, rural economies
Trees: sugar pine forest ecosystems, including a mix of conifers like Jeffrey pine, ponderosa pine, western white pine, Douglas-fir and incense cedar
Focal Wildlife Species: Pacific fisher

Lower Rio Grande Valley
Tactics: tree planting, habitat enhancement
Themes: endangered species, biodiversity, recreation
Trees: Texas thornscrub forest ecosystems with a diverse mix of tree species, including huisache, granejo, brasil and Texas ebony
Focal Wildlife Species: ocelot

Vote for Your Favorite Region

Do you live in one of the regions above or find one of the species captivating? Vote for your favorite by 10:00 a.m. EDT on April 26, and the winning region will receive an additional $10,000 project investment in 2018. When you vote, also enter to win a gift package worth nearly $400 and full of great products from some of our amazing partners, including Eddie Bauer, WeWOOD, Bambeco, S’well, Reveal and UncommonGoods!

Vote for your favorite wildlife

Stay tuned to Loose Leaf for more information, and if you want daily updates you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Find out the latest in forest news in this week’s Forest Digest!

• These creatures faced extinction. The Endangered Species Act saved them. — The Washington Post
  The Endangered Species Act is under jeopardy. At a recent hearing to discuss “modernizing the Endangered Species Act,” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), head of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said the ESA “is not working today.” This Washington Post feature, published in the March 28 print edition, highlights eight species that would probably have disappeared already were it not for the act.
• Fragmentation of tropical forests increases global emissions of greenhouse gases — Phys.org
  Scientists estimate that deforestation releases 1000 million tonnes of carbon each year, driving up global temperatures. A new study by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research and the University of Maryland reveals that, in addition to this, fragmentation of formerly contiguous areas of forest leads to carbon emissions rising by another third.
• In Poland’s Crooked Forest, a Mystery With No Straight Answer — The New York Times
  The Krzywy Las, or Crooked Forest, in Poland is packed with pine trees that are crooked so that they look like potbellied stick figures. On some 400 trees, the trunks buckle out 90 degrees, creating bark-covered bellies that drag just above the earth, oddly, all pointing in the same direction — north. Discover more about the rich history of this mysterious forest in this New York Times feature.
• Fractal patterns in nature and art are aesthetically pleasing and stress-reducing — Phys.org
  Humans have always been visual creatures. New findings show that aesthetic images can induce positive changes in the body, such as reductions in the viewer’s stress levels. Explore data about what factors in particular make these works of art or natural scenes visually appealing and stress-relieving.

By Suah Cheong, American Forests

Credit: Olena Shmahalo

Indoor plants have undeniably returned as a top décor trend. Whether you see spider plants lining the windows of clothing stores or succulents being featured in your social media feeds, houseplants are everywhere.

While plants effectively liven up indoor spaces, they also come with several other benefits. Here are five ways houseplants can help you maintain your health!

They purify the air
Research conducted by NASA shows that indoor plants play an important role in air quality improvement. Aside from helping us breathe by recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen during photosynthesis, plants have the ability to lower levels of chemicals like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde that are commonly found in indoor spaces. NASA recommends having one plant per 100 square feet of indoor space.

They increase humidity
During transpiration, plants release moisture from the small pores in their leaves, increasing humidity levels around them. In fact, plants are known to release about 97 percent of the moisture they take in. According to a study from the Agricultural University of Norway, having indoor plants not only soothes dry skin and decreases the likelihood of common colds, but also helps prevent respiratory disease.

They sharpen your focus
Indoor plants can also improve your memory and concentration. The College of Agriculture and Life Science at Texas A&M University found that, “Work performed under the natural influence of ornamental plants is normally of higher quality and completed with a much higher accuracy rate than work done in environments devoid of nature.”

They accelerate the healing process
Researchers at Kansas State University found that the presence of plants in hospital rooms can speed up recovery of surgical patients. In their study, patients who had plants in their rooms had lower blood pressure, asked for less pain medication, felt less anxious and were released sooner than those without any indoor plant exposure.

They make you happier
Indoor plants have proven benefits to your mental health and overall outlook on life. Another study conducted at Texas A&M University found that, “people who spend time outside every day are less likely to be depressed or stressed, and thus have fewer burdens on their mental health.” Natural aesthetic beauty is soothing to people, and keeping plants around your home or office is a simple way to lower your stress and anxiety levels.

By Doyle Irvin, American Forests

Chances are that if you visited me while I lived in the Bay Area, I took you on a hike down the Matt Davis Trail. It’s also likely that there’s an explanation why I’ve done this hike easily 30 times, while neglecting equal due diligence with the rest of Mt. Tam’s stunning hikes — whether its due to my being a creature of habit, a casual-bordering-on-lazy hiker or to the trail itself simply being that addicting… well, you can decide for yourself.

The trail takes you two to three hours and it’s all downhill. Some people decide to go uphill, although I’ve never really figured out why. At the end, there’s a once-an-hour bus back to where you parked.

This is a map of the area. Note the legendary Muir Woods National Monument nearby. Part of why I like the Matt Davis Trail is that you get much of the same environment (redwoods), without all the crowds that being nationally famous brings in.

You can park in the Pantoll Campground or the nearby Bootjack Campground. Spots can be pretty rare if you go on one of those days when everyone else is also trying to hike, so sometimes it’s worth planning it out.

When you start the hike, you’re in classic Marin redwoods territory. This photo I particularly like, because the foggy-day hikes can have a spooky aura.

There’s a magic to the greenery, along the trail. This photographer captured another foggy day mystery.

Doesn’t it just feel like these trees are guilty of something? Mossy culprits to the crime?

After hiking through the redwoods and their friends, you come out onto a grassy knoll or two. The transition can be quite abrupt and has stunned a few of my friends. Try to spot the person in this photo!

It’s from these grassy knolls that you will get your first glimpses of the ocean.

The path through the hills will go in and out of forested areas. These forested areas are due to the creeks running down the ravines formed where two hills conjoin. One of my favorite aspects of this hike is the in-and-out nature, where you really feel like you’re traversing different zones.

After the grassy hills, you descend into a forested area that’s wetter and more like a rainforest than the groves around Pantoll. Expect lots of ferns and creeks. This is also the steepest part of the trail – but don’t worry, it all has steps.

This is one of the many creeks flowing down the mountain. Over the course of the drought, many of these were dry, and it was a sad, sad thing. We’re all happy that it’s raining again.

The end is nearly in sight! Stinson Beach is a small beach community. This photo is from a little south of the town – you might not get to exactly this spot doing the Matt Davis Trail, but will definitely walk by similar vistas.

Do you dare to jump in? It’s safe, I promise. Great whites are our friends.

Your final destination, folks. At the end of this grueling two-hour, all-downhill hike, I like to pretend that I’ve exerted myself and that the only solution is an ocean cleanse. I will then jump in for a grand total of three seconds because the Pacific is cold. This is quickly followed by a large plate of Mexican food and a margarita, at Breakers.