Why Are the Giant Trees of the Tropics Dying? And Why Is One Species Thriving?

When the Panama Canal was created, so was an island.  The island of Barro Colorado sprang into being when the surrounding mountainous terrain was turned into a lake thanks to the canal.  Since then, the island has become on of the most studied on the planet, because its isolation allows scientists to see what is happening to our flora and fauna when they are not still being impacted by constant human intervention. And, oh dear, we do have a problem.  Many of the islands giant trees seem to be dying – and this is a pattern being repeated around the tropics.

This will have a massive impact on the environment as these giant trees are responsible for holding so much carbon and releasing it back due to premature death is not exactly what we want. And we don’t understand what is happening either.  Yet among the trees on the island of Barro Colorado, one giant is doing something unexpected.  Dipteryx Oleifera is thriving, not dying. Hosted by Joe Hanson, this video (which using stunning drone footage to reveal the forest on the island) explains what is happening – and what, perhaps, could be the solution.