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
What if we stopped viewing trees as obstacles to development or simply part of the landscape and instead recognized them for what they truly are—living systems that make life on Earth possible? That is exactly what one Canadian community has … Continue reading More Than Trees: Why One Canadian Town Recognized Their Right to Live
Now comes what some may view as a startling revelation. The chair of the Surfside Tree Committee has raised concerns that Western Gall Rust may prove catastrophic to Surfside’s shore pine population. They are now going to bring an arborist … Continue reading An Indictment of Policy: Did Surfside’s Tree Policies Help Create the Problem They Now Fear?
A question in yesterday’s Surfside candidate forum asked about the science and whether it was peer reviewed. Across the Pacific Northwest, urban forestry plans are increasingly guided by Best Available Science (BAS) rather than aesthetics alone. Scientific research from the … Continue reading Urban Forestry Plans and Best Available Science: Why Communities Grow Tree Canopy
The smell of morning traffic used to be Maya’s alarm clock. Living downtown, she had long made peace with the haze, the noise, and the constant hum of the interstate. But the moment she found out she was pregnant, everything … Continue reading Chapter 1: Before Birth – The First Gift of Trees
Nature’s Path to Health and Happiness explores the growing scientific evidence that trees are far more than beautiful features of the landscape—they are essential partners in human health. Through stories that follow people from before birth through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, … Continue reading Trees: Nature’s Path to Health and Happiness
For centuries, trees have been valued for their beauty, shade, and ecological importance. Increasingly, however, scientists are finding that trees may offer something even more profound: longer, healthier lives. Over the past two decades, researchers from around the world have … Continue reading Do Trees Help People Live Longer? What the World’s Largest Studies Reveal
When discussions turn to trees, people often focus on scenery, wildlife, or property values. Yet for thousands of Pacific County residents, trees provide something far more important: improved health, greater accessibility, and a better quality of life. Nearly one-quarter (23.2%) … Continue reading Trees and Disability: Why Tree Canopy Matters in Pacific County
Ocean Park and Surfside, Washington, have one of the oldest populations on the Washington coast. Community survey using Election Buddy with 82 residents responding, where data showed that the majority of respondents were above 65: More than 70% of respondents … Continue reading Seniors, Chronic Disease, Neurological Symptoms, and the Importance of Trees for health in Ocean Park and Surfside
The aerial comparison between 2018 and 2024 around Seabreeze Lake in Surfside, Washington, reveals a dramatic reduction in tree canopy, with an estimated loss approaching one-third of the original canopy coverage in some areas surrounding the lake. The results are … Continue reading Climate Threats Intensify as Tree Canopy Around Seabreeze Lake Declines
