forests

Southeast Asia's tropical forests are renowned for their biodiversity, but at the same time face significant threats from the expansion of oil palm plantations.

For the work, Geralda Armstrong and colleagues traveled throughout British Columbia sampling hazelnuts from forests that surround the archeological remains of Indigenous village complexes.

Despite Gabon’s oil wealth and vast forests, one third of its 2.4 million people live below the poverty line, according to the UN.

"This suggests these early inhabitants were clearing forests by burning them, in order to create open spaces for subsistence and perhaps cultural activities," said Adeleye.

Destruction of forests, and other wild places, she points out, is intrinsically linked to the climate crisis.