As coastal woodlands die to saltwater and turn into ghost forests, scientists study the causes and the pace

As coastal woodlands die to saltwater and turn into ghost forests, scientists study the causes and the pace

By Jeremy Cox Bay Journal It’s safe to say that Tree No. 160 won’t be standing for much longer. When a scientist tagged the loblolly pine at some point within the last four years, it was alive. The silver medallion bearing its identification number remains tacked into the tree’s side about 6 feet up from the ground. But the evergreen has now turned forever brown. The pine’s needles and most of its branches are gone. Its trunk is riddled with ins…