"Ancient 22-Million-Year-Old Forest Unearthed After Millennia"

Scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have uncovered fossilized remains of a 22-million-year-old mangrove forest on Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal. The forest, which was buried by a volcanic eruption, consisted of trees that could grow up to 130 feet tall, thriving in conditions with high atmospheric CO2 levels and brackish water. The discovery includes a new species named Sonneratioxylon barrocoloradoensis, with its closest living relatives found in Southeast Asia. The findings provide insights into the ancient ecosystems of Central America and will be published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.