In the Media...

Ben Harrison, '66, counts tree rings at the Olympic Natural Resources Center.

• A profile of Ben Harrison,'66. in the Issaquah News, “Man’s legacy keeps growing with the trees,” tells the story of one Forest Resources alum’s dedication to trees.

• Northwest Environmental Forum Leader Brian Boyle discusses the challenges of land conversion in Washington in a Seattle Times op ed, “Save Washington's forests for public and environmental benefit.”

• Climate experts have unveiled an online tool, ClimateWizard, that shows how global warming could affect the entire world, including changes within cities, states and countries. For an article on ClimateWizard featuring post-doctoral Research Associate Evan Girvetz and Assistant Professor Josh Lawler, see Seattle Times article, “UW scientists say new online tool aims to take world's temperature.”

• According to research done by Professor John Marzluff, wild crows can recognize individual people. Take the NPR quiz to see if you can tell them apart. And in other bird research, Marzluff is pecking some holes in the conventional wisdom about the environmental effects of suburban sprawl. Listen to a KUOW radio program featuring Marzluff’s research, “Urbanization Not All Gloom and Doom for Bird Life.”

• The City of Seattle should do much more to save and increase its urban tree canopy, according to a report recently presented to the City Council. A Seattle Times article, “Seattle's tree management needs revising, the city auditor says,” about the report cites research by Assistant Professor Soo-Hyung Kim on how urban trees help reduce stormwater runoff and capture and store carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

• Years ago, the Anna's hummingbird used to winter in the U.S. only as far north as California but now is a regular Christmas visitor to Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Climate change appears to be the reason.  Seattle PI article, “Birds seem to be heading farther north because of climate change,” quotes Forest Resources Professor John Marzluff and Assistant Professor Josh Lawler.

• A unique ecosystem of plants, birds and monkeys thrives in the treetops of the rainforest. Forest Resources alum Nalini Nadkarni, '83, explores these canopy worlds and shares her findings with the world below in a TEDblog video, “Unveiling the beautiful, fragile world of rainforest treetop ecosystems.”

• A new study of mountain lions in western Washington shows just how close the big cats are coming to homes and businesses. A KING-TV news story and video, “Study tracks where cougars roam in WA,” features the research of Forest Resources wildlife science Ph.D. student Brian Kertson.

• In recent years, the state of Washington has seen a significant increase in wildfires. Why is it happening? For a number of reasons, but at least one, say scientists, is climate change. See “Washington: Warming and Wildfires,” a Climate Central video originally broadcast on PBS’s The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and featuring research scientist Susan Prichard and Emeritus Professor Jim Agee.