kholl
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New global directory of reforestation organizations helps would-be donors maximize the impact of their philanthropy
Professor Karen Holl and Postdoctoral Researcher Spencer Schubert launched the directory in partnership with nonprofit environmental media organization Mongabay
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Reddit’s Former CEO Wants You to Buy a Subscription for Trees
Karen Holl, a professor of environmental studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz, says those looking to purchase a tree subscription should be asking for data and, critically, how many seedlings make it to maturity. Additional coverage in the Los Angeles Times.
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We can’t plant our way out of climate change
Forests with diverse tree species are more resilient to climate extremes and better at storing carbon, according to recent studies conducted in China and Panama. Karen D. Holl of the University of California, Santa Cruz, notes that the studies merely add “to the list of reasons” for diverse plantings — their importance is undeniable.
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Diverse forests and forest rewilding offer resilience against climate change
Environmental Studies Professor Karen Holl says there will always be trade-offs among benefits when conducting specific reforestation projects. “We can’t do it all at once,” she said. “If your goal is maximizing biodiversity, then reintroducing all the fauna and natural processes makes a lot of sense. If you’re trying to maximize timber production, it’s probably…
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California’s effort to streamline wildfire prevention could have long-term consequences
Karen Holl, a distinguished professor of environmental studies at UC Santa Cruz, spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle about the potential pitfalls Governor Newsom's executive order and emergency proclamation to suspend the California Environmental Quality Act, the Coastal Act and other longstanding regulations in order to remove red tape from projects to reduce fuels from…
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Lures that attract seed-dispersing bats could aid tropical reforestation
Environmental Studies Professor Karen Holl commented on new research, saying that reforestation impacts from attracting seed dispersing bats will depend upon whether or not the dispersed seeds actually germinate and contribute a lot to forest regrowth. Instead of bat lures, Holl recommends planting forest islands, which offer habitat and attract seed dispersing animals over time, contributing…
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Study focuses on effect of climate change on California's grasslands
Several UC Santa Cruz researchers contributed to a recent study that combined long-term observational data with results from global change experiments in the region to show that, climate change is causing species that prefer hotter and drier conditions to become more dominant in regional grassland communities. "(We need to) understand what's happening so that we…
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Huge deforested areas in the tropics could regenerate naturally, study finds
Karen Holl, professor of environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who was not involved in the research, noted that it’s critical to include local communities in regeneration efforts. Holl’s own research in Costa Rica has shown that people often see natural forest regeneration as “messy,” and they tend to place more value…
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Grasslands live in the climate change fast lane
A new paper that built upon prior research efforts in the Environmental Studies Department shows that grassland communities across the California Floristic Province are transitioning toward plants that prefer hotter and drier conditions at a pace that’s comparable to the observed rate of changes in climate.
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Across reforestation organizations, best practices claims abound, but details are scarce
Mongabay covered prior research by Environmental Studies Professor Karen Holl on the practices of tree-planting organizations and shared news about a new phase of the research, starting this month, in which the team plans to investigate links between reported practices and reforestation outcomes.
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Successful reforestation is keeping the Eastern U.S. cooler
For an article about the positive impacts of reforestation, Scientific American interviewed Environmental Studies Professor Karen Holl to clarify under which conditions reforestation campaigns are appropriate and most likely to provide benefits.
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Balancing carbon sequestration and community benefits
UCSC student Cole Seither addresses the delicate balance between agroforestry, carbon sequestration, and community benefits in combating climate change. His research is supported by the Earth Futures Institute’s Frontier Fellows program.