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

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.

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 ...

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