"World's Oldest Forests Found in Surprising US Region"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by BBC.com
The discovery of a 385-million-year-old forest in Cairo, New York, has amazed the world, revealing evidence of a forest that is two to three million years older than the previously recognized oldest forest in nearby Gilboa. The region, including the Catskills and counties north of them, is a treasure trove for hikers and rockhounds, with thousands of fossil forests likely preserved under modern forests and soils. These ancient trees hold clues to the evolution of ancient forest ecosystems and climate changes, shedding light on the global cooling process in the Paleozoic era and the subsequent evolution of land-dwelling vertebrates. The region is now receiving funding to protect and preserve these ancient sites for educational and scientific purposes.