Report written by Avantika Adhruj (Events Officer, Forest Ecology Special Interest Group) The webinar “Urban Forest Ecology: Nature-Based Pathways for Greener and Resilient Cities” provided a global platform to explore how urban forests and tree-based systems contribute to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable urban development. Organised by the British Ecological Society (BES) Forest Ecology Special Interest Group (SIG) on 26 June 2026, the event bro

Written by Sabrina Dookie In Guyana, mangroves are the first line etched between the coast and the Atlantic Ocean. In my mind, I see them as silent soldiers which protect our low-lying populations against flooding and erosion from the thunderous waves bombarding our 459 km coastline every single day. They grow. They protect. They nurture. Growing up, I thought they would always be there until I witnessed sections of the forest disappearing as the years went by. In some sect

Written by Pradeep Marula Siddappanavara (Guest Writer) As I travelled towards the Aghanashini Estuary along the Karnataka coast, India, the landscape gradually changed. The air became warmer and more humid, carrying the unique scent of the sea. Where river meets sea Soon, a broad expanse of water appeared on the horizon. I had reached one of the estuary’s tidal channels. The visit coincided with the early days of the south-west monsoon. Clouds drifted inland while the estu

Written by Samuel Appiah Ofori (Guest Writer) Mangrove seedlings along Sri Lanka’s coastline (Photo credits: One Tree Planted) Sri Lanka is one of the world’s most extraordinary biodiversity hotspots. It’s also one of the most wounded. Since the 1980s, the mangroves that once protected fisheries, stabilised shorelines, and sheltered communities have largely disappeared, mainly due to large-scale shrimp farming. Aquaculture is responsible for the loss of as much as 40 % of g

Written by Mayur Fulmali (Guest Writer) “A tiny herb thrives through concrete in scorching heat, while many pampered garden plants give up after one extra watering.” Growing plants can be difficult if not done correctly, and when the scale expands from a small garden to many hectares of land, uncertainty only increases. Yet, when Mother Nature takes charge, even a tiny herb can thrive in unimaginable places. It seems logical to simply follow nature's lead. However, identify

Written by Shifa Helena (Guest Writer) Bruguiera hainesii tree (Photo credits: Lamhot, 2025) Not in a grand protected reserve, nor in a perfectly preserved forest – it survives quietly on a remote coast of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. There, among dark mud, tangled mangrove roots, and seawater that slowly eats away the shoreline, it holds on. There, we found three remaining trees of Bruguiera hainesii. Bruguiera hainesii: a rare beauty on the edge of disappearance This is a

Written by Yousef Erfanifard (Guest Writer) A white egret resting within the mixed Avicennia and Rhizophora mangroves near Roud-e Gaz, Southern Iran. (Photo credits: Dr. Anoushirvan Shirvany/ CC BY 4.0) Mangrove ecosystems are critical to coastal resilience, providing a powerful shield against erosion and acting as efficient carbon sinks. Yet worldwide, these marine forests have contracted dramatically, occupying far less area than they once did. This makes the survival of s

Written by Onome Ofoman (Guest Writer) Maps give us direction and a sense of understanding of a location before our feet even touch the ground. As ecologists, we often begin our work scrolling through satellite imagery, identifying landscape patterns to guide our research [1]. This was exactly how I began planning my fieldwork in Lagos state, which is situated along Nigeria’s southwestern coast. It is surrounded by a complex network of lagoons, wetlands and creeks. I was usi

Written by Kapilkumar N. Ingle (Guest Writer) Mangrove restoration practices around the globe are often grounded on two points: what to plant and where to plant. But a third point, ‘when to plant’ is generally neglected. Kachchh supports vast mangrove cover on the west coast of India and is totally dominated by Avicennia marina. (Photo credits: Pallavi Joshi) Kachchh (Gujarat) is the largest district in India and supports vast mangrove areas on the western coast despite its

Insights from a World Forestry Day webinar by the BES Forest Ecology SIG Report written by Sunandani Chandel (co-chair, Forest Ecology Special Interest Group) The webinar “From Roots to Algorithms: Valuing Forests in a Changing Economy” provided a timely platform to examine how forests are increasingly understood not only as ecological systems, but also as integral to agroforestry landscapes, urban tree systems, and emerging financial frameworks. Organised by the British Ecol