With their dense mats of submerged roots, mangrove forests hold down shorelines worldwide like a coastal Swiss Army knife.

Above all, make sure you have plenty of water and be conscious of the heat. If you are planning a long hike, especially in summer, an early start is a good idea. Leave the trail before temperatures ...

Steve Nix is a member of the Society of American Foresters and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. Cottonwoods are poplars native to North America, Europe, and western Asia.

A tornado touched down about 10:40 a.m. Thursday in Wyoming County, according to the National Weather Service.