For many people, living on the coast has long been associated with fresh ocean air and a healthier environment. However, in recent years, massive wildfires burning hundreds or even thousands of miles away have demonstrated that no community is immune … Continue reading Wildfire Smoke Knows No Boundaries: Why Coastal Communities Need Healthy Trees More Than Ever

For more than a century, America’s forests have been challenged by invasive insects, destructive diseases, prolonged drought, and increasingly severe wildfires. Together, these threats have killed hundreds of millions of trees, reducing tree canopy that protects communities from heat, flooding, … Continue reading America’s Forest Recovery: How Planting Trees Is Helping Restore Forests Devastated by Disease, Insects, and Climate Change

Personally, I’ve been studying the tree canopy and environmental changes in Surfside for years. While climate change is certainly affecting the Washington coast, its impacts remain far less dramatic than those experienced inland. One reason I own property in Surfside … Continue reading Mount Hood’s Vanishing Snow: When Oregon’s Most Beautiful View Turns Ugly

For years, scientists have known that spending time among trees does more than simply help us relax. Research from Japan has shown that forests release natural airborne compounds called phytoncides—including alpha-pinene and beta-pinene—that may help strengthen the human immune system. … Continue reading Trees, Phytoncides, and Your Immune System: The Science Behind Nature’s Immune  Health Benefits