Trees Content

California Schools Are Losing Tree Canopy

Katherine E Kerlin — October 27, 2025 - 8:55pm

About 85% of elementary schools studied in California experienced some loss of trees between 2018 and 2022, found a �鶹��ý study.

How Improving Shade at California Public Schools Can Benefit Children and Communities

Katherine E Kerlin — September 05, 2025 - 10:02am

An interdisciplinary team of public health and environmental science researchers from across the University of California have found that despite efforts by the state and local school districts, many public schools fall short of providing sufficient shade, much less natural playing surfaces, for the 5.8 million children they serve — especially in an era of extreme temperatures.

Damaged Lake Spafford Tree Slated for Removal

Cody Kitaura — September 12, 2023 - 11:11am

In a difficult decision that weighs both safety and sentiment, one of the most beloved and iconic trees on the �鶹��ý campus is slated for removal Thursday (Sept. 14).

How �鶹��ý Is Growing a Tree Canopy for Tomorrow’s Climate

Jocelyn C Anderson — March 28, 2023 - 9:20am

Discover how �鶹��ý is planting a canopy of strong shade trees to prepare for the extreme heat waves central California will experience in the next 100 years.

Monitoring Forest Threats with New Open Forest Observatory

Katherine E Kerlin — September 21, 2022 - 11:53am

The Open Forest Observatory project at �鶹��ý will use drones, mapping, AI, remote sensing and more to create a powerful tool to better monitor forest threats, like wildfire.

The Survivors: Sugar Pine Trees and the Future Forest

Katherine E Kerlin — November 07, 2019 - 2:44pm

California’s drought and bark-beetle infestation killed more than 129 million trees between 2012 and 2016 in the Sierra Nevada. But amid the devastation stood some survivors.

Thinning Forests, Prescribed Fire Before Drought Reduced Tree Loss

Katherine E Kerlin — May 29, 2019 - 1:18pm

Thinning forests and conducting prescribed burns may help preserve trees in future droughts and bark beetle epidemics expected under climate change, suggests a study from the University of California, Davis.

The study, published in the journal Ecological Applications, found that thinning and prescribed fire treatments reduced the number of trees that died during the bark beetle epidemic and drought that killed more than 129 million trees across the Sierra Nevada between 2012-2016.

Ozark Grasslands Experience Major Increase in Trees and Shrubs

Katherine E Kerlin — September 20, 2017 - 2:39pm

Woody vegetation, such as trees and shrubs, has increased dramatically in Ozark grasslands over the past 75 years, according to a study published this week in the journal Landscape Ecology.

The study examines grasslands called dolomite glades in the Mark Twain National Forest near Ava, Missouri. It analyzed historical aerial photos and found that woody vegetation cover increased from 8 percent in 1939 to 59 percent in 2014.

Earth’s Oldest Trees in Climate-Induced Race up the Tree Line

Katherine E Kerlin — September 13, 2017 - 1:11pm

Bristlecone pine and limber pine trees in the Great Basin region are like two very gnarled, old men in a slow-motion race up the mountaintop, and climate change is the starting gun, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.

More Trees Tumble Down

Cody Kitaura — January 23, 2017 - 10:16am

Earlier coverage

The latest round of rain to hit over the weekend claimed two more larg