The Spooky Rise of ‘Ghost Forests’

“The Spooky Rise of ‘Ghost Forests’ Along the Eastern Seaboard” is the title of an article written and posted by Dharna Noor on March 16, 2021.  The story tells of the loss of forests on the east and gulf coasts of the United States due to sea level rise turning soils salty and sea water flooding formerly dry land. Freshwater-dependent trees are dying resulting in trunks and branches left standing and either bleaching out or turning black as they decay. While winds may blow the limbs and leaves away, once dry, the trunks may remain for years, giving a ghostly spectral appearance.  “This is happening up and down the East and Gulf Coasts,     especially in coastal areas where there is low lying, gently sloping land adjacent to coastal bays,” said Dr. Richard Lathrop Jr., co-author of new research reported out from Rutgers University’s Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis.  These forests are important     carbon sinks and of great ecological benefit, providing shelter for many plants and animal wildlife.  What can we do?  Plant more trees!  While Arizona may seem far away from the    east and gulf coasts of the US, what happens along these coasts affects us all.

 

Why is Arbor Day important? 

It is an internationally recognized day for the planting of trees for conservation and forestation goals.  We must protect the trees we have and plant more trees in places that do not have them.  A popular Arbor Day tradition is to plant a tree in honor or memory of a loved one or other special person in one’s life.  For more than 30 years, the British actress Dame Judi Dench has been planting trees near her home in honor of family and friends who have passed.  Each tree is labeled with the name of her loved one.  As Theodore Roosevelt Jr., 26th president of the United States and a famously enthusiastic conservationist and naturalist once said, ““To exist as a nation, to prosper as a state, and to live as a people, we must have trees.”  President Roosevelt prioritized conservation and established national parks, forests and monuments    intended to preserve the nation’s natural resources.

 

So, put on a good pair of boots, grab a shovel and go plant a tree (or trees)!  April 30, 2021.