Published

2 years ago

March 13, 2024

Alice Rush

According to a new study, the survival rate of rainforest seedlings is higher in natural forests than those that have been logged — even three decades following tree restoration projects.

An international team of researchers led by the United Kingdom’s University of Exeter tracked more than 5,000 seedlings in the Danum Valley Conservation Area and surrounding Ulu Segama landscape in North Borneo for one-and-a-half years, a press release from University of Exeter said.

The landscape contained natural forest as well as areas that had been logged 30 years earlier. Some had been restored with tree planting and other methods, while others were recovering naturally.

“Our findings suggest that seedlings are experiencing stress in logged forests. This could be due to changes to the canopy structure, microclimate and soil, with current restoration treatments insufficient to eliminate this stress. In particular, highly specialised species seem to struggle to survive, leaving communities with reduced species diversity compared to intact forest,” said Dr. David Bartholomew, who was based at University of Exeter while conducting the study and is now with Botanic Gardens Conservation International, in the press release.

^{Logged forests have reduced seedling density, reducing the probability for the next generation to emerge. David Bartholomew}

Across the study region, a “mass fruiting” had been triggered by drought. It caused trees to drop their fruit all at once, followed by the emergence of new seedlings.

Early on, both the restored forest and the natural forest had relatively high seedling numbers in comparison with a forest recovering naturally from logging, which suggested fruit production was enhanced by restoration activities.

But seedlings in the restored forest had low survival rates. By the time the study was finished, the naturally recovering forest as well as the restored forest had similarly low seedling numbers. In the natural forest, however, seedling populations stayed higher.

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The results demonstrated that forest regeneration may be affected by various factors contingent upon the restoration approach. For example, seedling survival in areas where planted trees have reached maturity and seed availability in sites that are naturally recovering from logging. The variations could have longer-term effects on how forests are able to perform carbon sequestration and other important ecosystem services.

“We were surprised to see restoration sites having lower seedling survival. After such a productive fruiting event in the restored forest, it’s disappointing that so few were able to survive – and to think what this might mean for the long-term recovery of different tree species,” said Dr. Robin Hayward, who conducted the research while pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Stirling, according to the press release.

Even though it has been shown that restoration benefits biomass accumulation, the findings indicated that it is not yet enabling the full establishment of next-generation seedlings.

“Rainforests are complex systems and there are many possible explanations for our results. For example, animals that eat seeds – like bearded pigs – may be drawn into restored forest patches to eat the more abundant seeds and seedlings, rather than moving into adjacent poor-quality logged forest. In natural forests, animals potentially move more freely and so do not exhaust seed supplies in the same way,” said Daisy Dent of ETH Zürich and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, in the press release.

Selective logging is widespread throughout the tropics, but long-term forest recovery is essential to the maintenance of high biodiversity and carbon stocks. Low seedling survival rates three decades later raise concerns about possible regeneration failure in future tree generations.

“Together, these results reveal there may be bottlenecks in recovery of particular elements of the plant community. We are now progressing this research into the various stages of the regeneration process – fruiting, germination, establishment and causes of mortality – to help understand which mechanisms are driving the patterns we have observed and how we can better assist forest regeneration and support the long-term sustainability of degraded forests,” said Dr. Lindsay F. Banin of the UK’s Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, in the press release.

The study, “Bornean tropical forests recovering from logging at risk of regeneration failure,” was published in the journal Global Change Biology.

It draws attention to the urgency of careful design, adaptive management and monitoring of restoration projects to ensure they are able to recover long-term biomass carbon and biodiversity. This is essential to meeting global targets like those set forth in the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Traits and characteristics in plants that determine plant functionality could be the answer to understanding low seedling survival rate, as they can show which resources plants are having a difficult time accessing.

The study found differing plant traits in intact forests and logged areas, which indicated that certain species may be having a hard time surviving in areas that have been disturbed, and some must adapt the way they grow. This could affect ecological functioning and biodiversity in the long-term.

“This study captures just 18 months after one fruiting event. Longer-term research is required to understand the full effects of historic disturbance, and how to enhance seedling survival,” the press release said. “Here, intact forests are dominated by a tree family, the Dipterocarpaceae, which along with many other tree families, fruits in large inter-annual episodes known as masting events. These cyclical events have important cascading effects on food availability for animal species.”

The post Rainforest Seedlings Grow Better in Natural Forests Than Restored Ones, Even After 30 Years, Study Finds appeared first on EcoWatch.

https://www.ecowatch.com/rainforest-seedlings-natural-forests-logging-restoration.html

Green Living

Earth911 Inspiration: Nothing In Vain

Published

1 day ago

January 23, 2026

Alice Rush

Aristotle, who saw purpose and design in everything, wrote in several different works that “Nature does nothing in vain.” We reply that regardless of purpose, nature does everything with grace; we are fortunate to witness the miraculous results of 13.4 billion years of experimentation.

Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image.

The post Earth911 Inspiration: Nothing In Vain appeared first on Earth911.

https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-nothing-in-vain/

Green Living

Can You Recycle Computers?

Published

3 days ago

January 21, 2026

Alice Rush

Last Updated on January 21, 2026

Picture this: Your laptop of three years decides it’s going to conk out. What’s the most sustainable solution? Seeing if you can get it repaired, of course.

Fighting planned obsolescence is a full time job, and it occurs with way more than just electronics.

But lets say you can’t repair your laptop for some unforeseeable reason…what then? You recycle it of course.

Computers don’t belong in landfills, nor do most conventional curbside recycling programs accept them. So how do you recycle computers? Here’s everything you need to know about computer recycling (and why we need to dispose of them properly).

why should you recycle computers?

First, lets tackle the reason we should bother to recycle computers. Computers are made up of several components – and when we dump them out, they become notorious for leaking toxins and carcinogens into the environment. This poses a risk for humans, wildlife, and soil quality alike.

However, if we recycle computers, all those components get a second shot at life. There are several valuable materials in our old computers that can be used to make new electronics, thus reducing waste and pollution.

According to the EPA, recycling 1 million laptops saves enough energy to power ~3,500 U.S. homes for a year.

And if that’s not reason enough – improperly disposed computers can put your personal or business files at risk of being recovered. And that can escalate to data breaches or reputation damage (yikes).

how do I get rid of my old computer?

To get rid of your old computer, you must first back up your data, sign out of all accounts, wipe & destroy the hard drive, then recycle the computer through local e-waste centers or retailers with take-back programs (Best Buy, Staples, etc.).

To wipe a hard drive, be sure to back up any important data first. Use built-in tools like ‘reset this PC’ or check with your computer’s manufacturer to see specific instructions. For example, here’s how to wipe a Dell hard drive and erase a Mac hard drive.

For absolutely no chance of your data being recovered, it’s always best to remove and destroy the hard drive, if possible. Here’s a guide to destroying a hard drive safely.

Once the hard drive is no longer an issue, you can recycle computers through a number of drop-off or mail-in options.

drop off:

Local e-waste recycling events (make sure to ask if your specific computer will be accepted in advance). Check your local .gov to see when your next one will be!

Best Buy accepts various desktops, laptops, and tablets, including some accessories. There’s a limit of 3 items per household per day. They charge a small fee for recycling monitors.

Staples accepts computers & Macs. They charge a fee for monitors. When you recycle, you get rewards with their store!

Use ERI’s recycle search and find recycling locations near you. Just type in “computer recycling” and your zip code to learn what your options are.

mail-in:

Several manufacturers will accept mail-in recycling for their computer models. Dell and HP have trade-in programs for computers that meet certain standards, as well as recycling options for lesser functioning computers of any brand. Apple also accepts trade-in and recycling for several devices, including computers.

Green Citizen offers free mail-in recycling for laptops, desktops, and tablets, but there may be fees for data destruction.

Most of these places will also accept computer accessories, like keyboards, mice, etc. But be sure to double check!

should you remove the hard drive from a computer before recycling?

Yes, always remove the hard drive before recycling. It’s best to wipe it, then remove it and destroy it. Because even a wiped hard drive can still be recovered, to an extent.

Even if you empty the recycling bin on your computer it doesn’t guarantee that the content is gone because the computer marks that data space to be overwritten with new data. So if the data hasn’t been overwritten, data recovery software can pick it up.

does best buy erase hard drives when recycling?

Best Buy offers tips and advice on wiping hard drives and data for Windows computers prior to drop off, but won’t actually do it for you. It’s best to go prepared by wiping/destroying your hard drive first.

So, what did you think of this guide to recycling computers? Let me know in the comments!

The post Can You Recycle Computers? appeared first on Going Zero Waste.

Can You Recycle Computers?

Green Living

Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Carbonfuture is Building the Trust Infrastructure for Carbon Removal

Published

3 days ago

January 21, 2026

Alice Rush

Read a transcript of this episode. Subscribe to receive transcripts: Learn more.

The carbon removal industry stands at a crucial crossroads. While cutting emissions remains essential, avoiding catastrophic warming now requires pulling billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere permanently. But as this nascent field grapples with questions of legitimacy, scalability, and accountability, a critical challenge remains: How do we build the infrastructure needed to track, verify, and certify that carbon has actually been removed and stays removed? Meet Hannes Junginger-Gestrich, CEO of Carbonfuture, a company helping define the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) infrastructure that could transform carbon removal from scattered efforts into a functioning ecosystem. Launched five years ago, Carbonfuture has emerged as what CDR.fyi describes as “the largest facilitator of durable carbon removal” by volume. The company’s digital platform integrates data across the carbon removal life cycle, connecting diverse approaches like biochar, enhanced rock weathering, and direct air capture with buyers seeking to meet climate commitments. “We are probably more the crowd, the ground keepers in a stadium that makes sure that everything is provided properly,” Hannes explains, using a sports analogy to describe their role: “We are the ground keepers in a stadium [who ensure] the players have a playing field that’s in shape and no one gets hurt, and the audience can come and they pay their tickets and have a good experience.”

Hannes Junginger-Gestrich, CEO of Carbonfuture, is our guest on Sustainability In Your Ear.

The MRV infrastructure becomes crucial as corporate demand for verified carbon removal grows and trust becomes currency. One of the most interesting aspects of the conversation centers on balancing data confidentiality with transparency needs, particularly when collecting data along industrial value chains from agricultural residue producers to biochar processors to end users. Perhaps most telling is Junginger-Gestrich’s unwavering commitment to scientific rigor over short-term economic gains: “We never had to trade off between rigor and allowing a not so good project on our platform for economic reasons. We always lean to the scientific and rigorous side.” This philosophy has guided Carbonfuture’s work with leading buyers like Microsoft, helping develop increasingly sophisticated approaches to carbon removal verification. While Junginger-Gestrich expresses concern about delayed emission reductions globally, he remains optimistic about carbon removal scaling: “I think we will be on the path to the gigatons by 2040 for sure.” His vision emphasizes ecosystem thinking over vertical integration, aiming to drive down costs while creating network effects that could accelerate the entire field. As governments worldwide grapple with climate policy, the monitoring, reporting, and verification systems companies like Carbonfuture are developing now may well determine the success of our collective effort to reverse climate change. You can learn more about Carbonfuture at carbonfuture.earth.