Rewind: It's hard out here for a beech

The Common

Team Common is currently working on our transition to a weekly show. We’ll be back this summer with new episodes. In the meantime, here’s one from our archives.

Beech trees are native to the Northeast and make up about 10% of forests in Massachusetts.

The tree, which is identifiable by its smooth trunk and wide canopy, is a crucial habitat and food source for many animal species in the region. But in recent years, a microscopic worm-caused disease has been targeting beech leaves, causing many trees to starve to death over time. The disease is spreading, and fast.

WBUR climate and environment reporter Paula Moura joins The Common to tell us more about this disease, how to identify it and the race to find a cure to save Massachusetts' beech trees.

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