IN 1957, geologist Edward Sable photographed the Jago river in Alaska's north-east corner. His snap shows a typical Arctic vista, devoid of trees, with low-lying grass growing among glacial debris.
Half a century later, an ecologist by the name of Ken Tape visited the very same site to retake the shot. "It was hardly recognisable," says Tape. Ground-hugging plants had given way to tall bushy shrubs. Even the shape of the land had changed in places, as long-frozen soil had thawed.
This flourishing of vegetation is no isolated phenomenon – it is happening across vast swathes of the planet. And while it is most pronounced in cold northern regions, it is also happening in more surprising places. From the Middle East to the Australian outback and the African savannah, many of Earth's driest regions are getting greener.
A greener planet sounds wonderful, and in some ways it could be. ...
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