On Earth Day, we take a look back at the rocky history of “tree-huggers.” The term originated in the 1970s in the Himalayas and was later co-opted by American politics in the 1990s. Now, environmentalists are reclaiming the word.
trees
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The Great Green Wall’s one of the world’s most ambitious eco-projects. Is it working?
It’s a global effort with a multibillion dollar price tag. Among its aims: re-greening nearly 250 million acres, planting 4,000 miles of trees, helping farmers, creating jobs, sequestering carbon.
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Greetings from a Paris park, where a lone sequoia tree is a marvel to behold
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR’s international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
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Why do only some leaves turn red in the fall? Scientists can’t agree on an answer
The red pigments in some fall leaves have proven to be a puzzle for researchers who debate why leaves bother to go red.
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Greetings from Johannesburg, South Africa, where spring bursts with jacaranda blooms
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR’s international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
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A tree falls. A lawsuit follows. A legal expert explains why
Tree disputes between neighbors are common. So what happens when a tree is illegally removed from your property? And what recourse do you have?
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Oaklee, Oakley, Oakleigh: Parents branch out to oak-based names, especially in red states
Olivia and Liam are the most popular baby names now, but Social Security Administration data shows oak-based names are gaining popularity, particularly in conservative parts of the country.
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A man chopped down Los Angeles trees. The crime cut deep in the struggling neighborhood
For days, police say, Samuel Patrick Groft cruised through the streets of Los Angeles on his bicycle, single-handedly chopping down about a dozen city trees with an electric chainsaw in three different neighborhoods.
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In need of some peace? Take a stroll — or scroll — through D.C.’s cherry blossoms
Springtime means cherry blossoms in the nation’s capital. On a recent breezy morning, with peak bloom still two days away, the Tidal Basin was packed with both blossoms and visitors.
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Poisoned trees gave a wealthy couple a killer view — and united residents in outrage
A politically connected Missouri couple allegedly poisoned their neighbor’s trees to secure their million-dollar view of Camden Harbor in Maine. The incident was unearthed by the victim herself.
