In eastern California, a Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) known as Methuselah has long been considered Earth’s oldest living thing. According to tree-ring data, Methuselah is 4,853 years old — meaning it was well established by the time ancient Egyptians built the pyramids at Giza. This time-worn tree not only provides clues about our planet’s past climate, it – and forests in general for that matter – also plays a critical role in combating #climatechange today.