The science, practice and humans of ecological restoration. We assist the recovery of ecosystems, which promises a brighter future for human livelihoods and health as well as a just transition in a warming world.
In this special episode, we welcome author and storyteller Martin Goodman to explore the extraordinary living story of the Bishnoi people—a community in the Western Thar Desert of India who have made protecting life, in all its forms, their deepest devotion. Three centuries ago, 363 Bishnoi villagers led by Amrita Devi gave their lives to defend the sacred khejri trees from destruction, speaking the words still taught to Bishnoi children today: “My head for a tree is a cheap price to pay.” But the Bishnoi are not just a story of sacrifice from the past—they are still here, still tending, still fighting for the beings and ecosystems that sustain us all. Martin shares the serendipitous journey that brought him to the Bishnoi, the profound lessons he learned among them, and the creation of his new book, My Head for a Tree: The Extraordinary Story of the Bishnoi, Guardians of Nature. We talk about devotion, care as daily practice, the ecology of love, and what it means to live in relationship with the smallest creatures. We hope this conversation reminds you: Love is not only an action. It is also a meditation. A daily practice of belonging. A vow, renewed again and again, to defend life-affirming practices. ✨ Highlights include: The origin story behind the term "treehugger" and why it still matters today The 29 rules of the Bishnoi faith: a life built around ecological care The emotional and spiritual legacy of Amrita Devi's sacrifice How the Bishnoi resist extractive forces with devotion and fierce tenderness Reflections on love as an ecosystem, not just an emotion How we can follow the Bishnoi's example without appropriating their sacred ways
We are joined by Philip Stielstra, founder of PropagationNation, to explore the fascinating world of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) and giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Philip shares his inspiring journey from Seattle Tree Ambassador to becoming a leader in assisted migration, helping these ancient giants find a new future in the Pacific Northwest. We dive into: The unique traits that make coast redwoods and giant sequoias candidates for assisted migration, including their fire resistance, drought tolerance, and pest resistance. Challenges such as slow seed production, low natural regeneration, and the ecological and ethical considerations of introducing these species to non-native environments. Insights into Indigenous perspectives on land stewardship and how they inform restoration practices. Propagation Nation's Redwood Test Plot Grant Initiative, which studies the viability of these iconic trees in new environments. This episode builds on themes from previous treehugger podcast episodes featuring Dr. Sally Aitken on climate-smart forestry, Chelsey Armstrong on Forest Gardens and Indigenous knowledge systems, and last but not least the Climate Feels episode exploring the cultural dimensions of climate adaptation. Access key resources: PropagationNation website; Appendix 1 Selection of Seeds and Other Propagules for Restoration of the SER International Standards for Ecological Restoration; and, the Assisted Migration Best Management Practices for Pacific Northwest Habitat Restoration Projects. These key documents guide practitioners in selecting seeds and propagules for restoration projects, focusing on genetic diversity, climate-resilient traits, and future climatic scenarios. Key Takeaways: Assisted migration is an essential strategy for adapting forests to climate change, ensuring that both trees and ecosystems can thrive in evolving conditions. By blending science, ethics, and community involvement, we can create adaptive ecosystems for tomorrow's challenges. Coast redwoods and giant sequoias represent not just ecological resilience but also a vision of hope for future forests. Connect with Us: Follow us on social media @treehuggerpod to share your thoughts and continue the conversation. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Treehugger Podcast wherever you listen to your favorite shows!
treehugger podcast is 5 years old this month! In this episode, we sit down with Christopher Brown, author of A Natural History of Empty Lots, to uncover the stories hidden in the overlooked spaces of our cities. Christopher shares his unique perspective on urban landscapes—vacant lots, overgrown alleys, and forgotten corners—revealing the vibrant ecosystems and cultural narratives thriving within them. Drawing on his experience as a speculative fiction writer, he challenges us to rethink the value of these unintentional landscapes and their role in shaping our connection to the wider world. We discuss themes from his book, including the intersections of biodiversity, ecological restoration, and the unexpected beauty found in urban spaces. Christopher also reflects on how his dystopian fiction background shaped his views on resilience, adaptation, and our responsibility to imagine better futures. Whether you're an urban dweller, a nature enthusiast, or just curious about the life teeming in the margins of your city, this conversation will leave you inspired to see your environment through a new lens. Links and Resources Christopher Brown's Website: christopherbrown.com Field Notes: Reports from Edgelands Living Planet Index 2024 Report Christopher's Book, A Natural History of Empty Lots: Find it here Connect with Us Treehugger Podcast on Instagram: @treehuggerpod Twitter: @treehuggerpod Facebook: Treehugger Podcast Music for this episode provided by Kevin Macleod and Go By Ocean
In this podcast episode, the discussion dives into the complexities and nuances of ecosystem monitoring, led by the Dylan Mendenhall's deep experience and passion for the field. He emphasizes the importance of well-defined questions to drive high-quality monitoring efforts, contrasting effective monitoring with what they term “zombie monitoring”—data collection that continues without purpose due to sunk cost fallacies or lack of clear objectives. The conversation spans from traditional techniques like plot-based sampling and transect surveys to advanced molecular methods like eDNA, which may revolutionize the way we monitor microbial life and species presence, such as salmon populations in streams. Remote sensing tools like LiDAR and Landsat are highlighted for their critical role in capturing landscape-level data, aiding in efforts to monitor urban canopy cover and assess heat disparities in historically under-resourced areas. Dylan stresses the challenges in ecological monitoring, from inconsistent funding—often dependent on short-term grants—to data management, where data hoarding hinders potential collaborations and broader ecological insights. He advocates for partnerships, especially when involving multiple stakeholders with complementary expertise, to foster sustainable, impactful monitoring efforts. Ultimately, the episode explores both the scientific rigor and the philosophical mindset needed in monitoring, encouraging listeners to consider ecosystems not just as research subjects but as collaborators in knowledge-building. Whether through “thinking like a mountain” or creating detailed conceptual models, we illustrate a holistic approach to monitoring that balances scientific inquiry with a deep respect for the natural world. Haven Ecology and Research Website Music for this episode courtesy of The 126ers and Otis McDonald
We explore a fresh perspective on non-native and introduced species. Traditionally viewed as pests or threats to ecosystems, some of these species offer hidden benefits that are often overlooked in conventional pest management frameworks. We dive into the complexities of integrated pest management (IPM), discussing the importance of balancing ecological restoration with justice, health, and livelihoods. This episode was adapted from a talk originally given to an audience focused on integrated pest management. It encourages listeners to rethink the language we use around non-native species, while offering insights into their potential contributions to ecosystems, medicinal practices, and more. Key Topics Discussed: The impact-focused traditional approach of integrated pest management (IPM) The often-overlooked benefits of non-native species Political ecology and how power relations influence our views on species The relationship between ecological restoration and cultural responsiveness Medicinal uses of “weeds” and their place in autonomous healing practices How rethinking our language around invasive species can shift our environmental practices Further Reading and Resources: For those interested in diving deeper into the topics covered in this episode, here are some recommended readings and resources: "Just Language" Project Learn more about how changing the language we use around species management can transform our ecological and cultural approaches. Visit JustLanguage.org Herbal Astrology Oracle Deck by Anima Mundi and Ayana Ayales This oracle deck ties together herbalism, astrology, and ancient wisdom, making connections between plants, their medicinal uses, and astrological influences. A fun, creative way to learn more about the plants discussed in this episode. More on Herbal Astrology Oracle "Honorable Harvest" – Robin Wall Kimmerer For more on indigenous perspectives, Robin Wall Kimmerer's concept of the Honorable Harvest offers valuable ethical guidelines for interacting with nature. Watch her talk on YouTube "Invasive Plant Relations in a Global Pandemic: Caring for a “Problematic Pesto” by Gabrielle Doiran This paper explores the tensions surrounding invasive species management and advocates for a justice-centered approach to environmental restoration, incorporating ideas of multispecies entanglements and caring for invasive species. "Valuing the Contributions of Non-Native Species to People and Nature" by Dov Sachs et al. A framework that examines both the positive and negative impacts of non-native species on ecosystems, highlighting their contributions to social cohesion, food production, climate change mitigation, and mental health. Connect with Us: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review, subscribing, or sharing it with your friends. Your support helps us continue bringing you insightful conversations on ecological restoration and the healing power of nature. Follow Us: Instagram: @treehuggerpod | email: treehuggerpod@gmail.com Music for this episode courtesy of Adam McDougal and TrackTribe
Underground seed banks, passive restoration, and ecological memory - these elements are crucial in understanding and facilitating natural recovery processes in ecosystems. We'll explore how leveraging underground seed banks, which contain dormant seeds waiting for the right conditions to germinate, can support native plant regeneration. This approach is relational, often less expensive, and informs a long-range view. It also relies on the ecological memory, which refers to an ecosystem's ability to retain information about past states and disturbances, aiding its recovery and resilience. Topics Covered: Importance of underground seed banks in restoration Differences between passive and active restoration Concept and significance of ecological memory Examples of natural regeneration strategies Resources: High Country News article: "Underground seed banks hold promise for ecological restoration" by Josephine Woolington Read more about ecological memory for yourself at Google Scholar Social media: @treehuggerpod Support the Show: Donate via mobile payment services @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp. Subscribe, rate and review the show please on whichever podcast platform you enjoy listening to. It helps people find the show. Or tell a friend about the show. Music from the show Lish Grooves and MK2 Thanks for tuning in! See you in the woods.
This episode delves into the integration of artificial intelligence within the field of ecological restoration. Covering a broad spectrum from the practical to the philosophical, the conversation explores the potential for AI to reshape restoration practices, the ethical considerations at play, and the importance of balancing technological advancement with traditional ecological knowledge. Through personal anecdotes, professional experiences, and a look towards the future, the guests offer a comprehensive exploration of how AI is shaping the landscape of ecological restoration and what that means for the environment and society. Episode Segments 1. Introducing the Experts Meet Sam Woodrich, a Ph.D. student at Oregon State University, and Dr. Timothy Pape, a postdoctoral research associate at Bowling Green State University. Both bring a wealth of knowledge in environmental and social sciences and share their insights on AI in ecological restoration. Woodrich, Samuel T., and Timothy Pape. "Ecological restoration and artificial intelligence: whose values inform a project?." Restoration Ecology (2024): e14128. 2. Exploring AI in Ecological Restoration An overview of how AI is currently being utilized in ecological restoration projects. This segment covers practical applications, from predictive modeling to species identification. 3. Bridging the Gap: AI Tools as Assistants Discussion on AI tools such as the Merlin Bird ID app and iNaturalist, and how they assist in ecological monitoring and data collection. The segment emphasizes the collaborative potential between AI and human expertise. 4. Debating AI's Role and Impact A critical look at the limitations and biases of AI in ecological restoration. This segment explores the ethical considerations and the need for integrating traditional ecological knowledge with AI-driven methods. 5. Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe? An exploration of AI's potential benefits and risks. The experts discuss whether AI can be a reliable partner in restoration efforts or if it poses significant challenges that need to be carefully managed. 6. Looking to the Future: AI, Restoration, and Beyond Insights into future advancements in AI technology and their potential impact on ecological restoration. The segment highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and adaptive management in leveraging AI for sustainable outcomes. 7. Wrapping Up and Rapid Fire Questions A fun and engaging wrap-up segment where the experts answer rapid-fire questions, sharing personal anecdotes and their visions for the future of AI in ecological restoration. Read more for yourself at Google Scholar. A growing number of articles provide an overview of the current state and potential of AI in ecological restoration, addressing both the technical capabilities and the ethical considerations involved. It takes a community to keep a podcast like this going. As an independent show, every contribution makes a difference. If you'd like to support us, you can donate via Paypal and Venmo and Cashapp and your generosity helps cover the small overhead costs of producing the show. Music from the episode is Lish Grooves
In this episode, we're joined by two extraordinary guests, Seth Zuckerman and Kirk Hansen, who bring decades of experience and insight to the practice of ecological forestry. Their recent book, "A Forest of Your Own," serves as a comprehensive guide for forest stewards in Oregon and Washington, covering essential skills like evaluating land, sustainable management, wildfire risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. Seth and Kirk address the diverse needs of family forest owners, community forests, municipalities, and Indigenous tribes, offering insights on sustainable wood harvest, wildlife habitat enhancement, and watershed protection. Kirk Hanson is an experienced forest educator and pracitioner, skilled in guiding forest owners to managed their land sustainably. He has worked with a variety of landowners, and also blogs about his own family's experiences managing 200 acres of forestland in the South Puget Sound. As a journalist, Seth Zuckerman reported extensively on forests, salmon and the human communities that depend on them. He also serves as Executive Director of Northwest Natural Resources Group, and he is author of several books, including Saving Our Ancient Forests and Salmon Nation. During our conversation, Seth and Kirk discuss how ecological forestry differs from conventional industrial forestry, advocating for practices that prioritize ecosystem health and long-term sustainability. They share personal experiences and insights, highlighting the importance of interventions like thinning to promote forest resilience, especially in the face of climate change. Their book and work aim to empower forest landowners with the knowledge and tools to become responsible stewards of their land, promoting ecological health and resilience for the benefit of both people and the environment. As we explore the balance between human intervention and natural processes in forest management, Seth and Kirk address common questions and misconceptions about forest management, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that considers long-term ecological health and diverse benefits for future generations. They highlight the role of ecological diversity in promoting economic resilience and offer practical advice for forest observation and engagement. A Forest of Your Own book www.nnrg.org/book Keeping Up with the Hansons Blog www.nnrg.org/hansonfamilyforest You can donate to help cover the small overhead for the show. @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp. Music from the show Stayloose | Gunnar Olson | Cumbia Deli
In this episode, we delve into the world of plant medicines. Our guest, Natalie Hammerquist, a herbalist based in Washington state, shares her extensive knowledge and experience in herbalism and foraging local wild plants. Natalie's journey, rooted in a degree from The Evergreen State College, led her to explore herbalism, plant taxonomy, and food science. Under the guidance of renowned herbalists like Cascade Anderson Geller and Matthew Wood, Natalie integrated aspects of Chinese medicine and Western herbalism into her practice. What's particularly intriguing about our conversation is Natalie's emphasis on the importance of collaboration between restorationists and herbalists to ensure sustainable caretaking and the preservation of plant resources. Natalie also shares her personal journey into herbalism, shaped by her own health struggles during college, and highlights the diverse approaches within herbalism, blending scientific methodologies with traditional wisdom. Additionally, Natalie sheds light on the regulatory disparities between the United States and Europe, emphasizing the need for advocacy and education to support herbalism and holistic health practices. She offers insights into her forthcoming book, "Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Northwest," which aims to provide practical guidance and visual aids for identifying medicinal plants, emphasizing the importance of accurate plant identification and ethical harvesting practices. We dig into topics such as the significance of timing in harvesting, ethical considerations inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer's concept of the Honorable Harvest, and the therapeutic properties of plants like knotweed, blackberry, and hawthorn. Natalie advocates for sustainable harvesting practices that balance the benefits and impacts of these plants, promoting a mindful approach that honors the interconnectedness of all living beings and fosters responsibility for the wider environment. Adiantum School of Plant Medicine website | Instagram Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Northwest: A Visual Guide to Harvesting and Healing with 35 Common Species Natalie will be presenting her new book, "Medicinal Plants of the Pacific Northwest: A Visual Guide to Harvesting and Healing with 35 Common Species," at Third Place Books in Seward Park on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 7:00pm. https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/natalie-hammerquist Music from this show: John Patitucci | Soy Emilia
This treehugger episode meanders through Ivyland and investigates the extensive properties and uses of ivy, Hedera helix. Ivies (Araliaceae) are a diverse genus of evergreen plants native to regions spanning Europe, across central-southern Asia, and N Africa. Its botanical name is rooted in Latin; Hedera is related to its traditional medicinal uses. Known for its climbing or ground-creeping nature, ivy offers various ecological benefits such as habitat and shelter for wildlife, acts as a late-season food source for pollinators, offers berries for birds, controls soil erosion, regulates microclimates, and contributes to carbon sequestration. Additionally, it has several human benefits, including air purification, aesthetic appeal, thermal regulation, stress reduction, and medicinal uses. The podcast explores ivy's role in herbal remedies, emphasizing its traditional uses in respiratory health, anti-inflammatory properties, skin health, antioxidant effects, and wound healing. Then in a detailed conversation, treehugger guest, Toby Query, discusses the complexity of his relationship with ivy. We explore ivy's growth patterns, methods of removal such as mechanical means and herbicides, and concerns about the environmental impact of these methods. The conversation delves into the benefits of ivy, such as supporting wildlife and contributing to soil moisture and the mycorrhizal network. The need for a context-specific approach to ivy management is emphasized, challenging myths and emphasizing the importance of further research. Ultimately, ivy is recognized as a diverse and ecologically important plant with cultural and historical significance. Toby Query is an ecologist based in Portland, known for his extensive work in the city's Revegetation Program since 1999. He focuses on stewarding natural areas, particularly the Shwah kuk wetlands, in collaboration with Indigenous communities. Toby is also the founder of Portland Ecologists Unite!, a group which created spaces to learn, discuss, and connect over current ecological issues. He holds a certification as a Senior Ecologist from the Ecological Society of America and is an active contributor to The Nature of Cities website. Toby has a passion for mycelial networks and is engaged in learning and teaching about fungi. peruse the scientific literature on Hedera helix via Google Scholar, new select articles below: Detommaso, M., Costanzo, V., Nocera, F., & Evola, G. (2023). Evaluation of the cooling potential of a vertical greenery system coupled to a building through an experimentally validated transient model. Building and Environment, 110769. Lukas, K., Dötterl, S., Ayasse, M., & Burger, H. (2023). Colletes hederae bees are equally attracted by visual and olfactory cues of inconspicuous Hedera helix flowers. Chemoecology, 1-9. Milliken, W. (2023). Ethnoveterinary data in Britain and Ireland: can native herbal medicine promote animal health?. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 26, 1-32. Sax, D. F., Schlaepfer, M. A., & Olden, J. D. (2022). Valuing the contributions of non-native species to people and nature. Trends in ecology & evolution, 37(12), 1058-1066. Vercruysse, W., Kunnen, K., Gomes, C. L., Marchal, W., Cuypers, A., & Vandamme, D. (2023). Common Ivy (Hedera helix L.) Derived Biochar's Potential as a Substrate Amendment: Effects of Leached Nutrients on Arabidopsis thaliana Plant Development. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 1-12. Read Indigenous scholarship! Wehi, P. M., Kamelamela, K. L., Whyte, K., Watene, K., & Reo, N. (2023). Contribution of Indigenous Peoples' understandings and relational frameworks to invasive alien species management. People and Nature. It takes a community to keep a podcast going. I am totally independent, and you can donate to help cover the small overhead for the show. @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp. Subscribe, rate and review the show please on whichever podcast platform you enjoy listening to. It helps people find the show. Or tell a friend about the show. Music for this episode is from John Patitucci and TrackTribe
Kyle Flanagan asks us how we can truly address the roots of the climate crisis, and how we can keep each other safe in the years to come—while making sure that no one gets left behind. She wrote Climate Resilience, robust with short essays edited from interviews with 39 individuals who have been cultivating resilience for decades. There is a chapter dedicated to ecological restoration and issues related to river restoration, shifting the framing of environmental injustices, soil health, community composting and good fire. Intersecting with restoration, Kylie and the cohort of climate imaginaries foreground skills required in a warming world - relationship repair, participatory & decentralized economics, collective care, community adaptation, cultural strategy and people power. Kylie is a climate communicator and the executive director of a small, climate justice-focused foundation. Originally from Miwok lands in the California Bay Area, she currently resides on Munsee Lenape lands in New York City. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College and received a master's in sustainability solutions from Presidio Graduate School. Driven by a desire to make the world more delicious, beautiful, joyous, and just, she has dabbled in goat midwifery, cheesemaking, tiny house architecture and construction, supper club hosting, edible landscaping, sustainable business consulting, and most recently, writing Climate Resilience. Climate Resilience Project and www.climateresilienceproject.org (that launches in early August). pre-order the book on bookshop.org Climate Resilience features voices of Native Rights activists, queer ecologists, Gen-Z organizers, urban farmers, and others on the front lines: Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Ruth Miller, Niria Alicia, Morgan Curtis, Casey Camp-Horinek, Victoria Montaño, Heather Rosenberg, Cate Mingoya, Didi Pershouse, Ceci Pineda, Margo Robbins, Doria Robinson, Cassia Herron, Marta Ceroni, Crystal Huang, Moji Igun, Deseree Fontenot, Jacqueline Thanh, Janelle St. John, Miriam Belblidia, Lil Milagro Henriquez, Amee Raval, Marcie Roth, Eileen V. Quigley, Natalie Hernandez, Mindy Blank, Chief Shirell Parfait-Dardar, Eve Mosher, Irfana Jetha Noorani, Melissa Reyes, Patty Berne, Selin Nurgun, Sekita Grant, Mara Ventura, Kavaangsaar Afcan, Olivia Juarez, Sona Mohnot, Kailea Frederick, and Dominique Thomas Michael's podcast recommendations History is Gay & Other Men Need Help It takes a community to keep a podcast going. I am totally independent, and you can donate to help cover the small overhead costs for the show via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp. Music from the show Patiño and TrackTribe
In the early 2020s, many conservation-related organizations seem to have accelerated their promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion as well as reckoning with their racist origins. The University of Puget Sound recently made the decision to remove the name “Slater'' and give back the original name of their natural history museum. Furthermore called Puget Sound Museum of Natural History, the institution calls this out as “an important step in acknowledging the often problematic figures intertwined in natural history museums and ensuring our museum is an inclusive space for all.” My guest on this show, Grace Maria Eberhardt is a PhD student at the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign studying the history of science and race. She led the movement to remove the name “Slater” from the Slater Museum of Natural History at the University of Puget Sound, where she earned her B.S. in Biology and African American Studies, and Bioethics emphasis in 2020. This episode contains discussion of sterilization, which includes involuntary or coerced removal of a person's ability to reproduce; murder by police; selective breeding of humans for the improvement of human race; and, genocide. Puget Sound Museum of Natural History website and @pugetsoundmuseum post about renaming The History of Eugenics at Puget Sound and Beyond Chang-Yoo, Albert. University tackles ugly history in Slater Museum renaming. University of Puget Sound's The Trail. May 13, 2022 Hodder, Sam. “Reckoning with the League Founders' Eugenics Past.” Save the Redwoods League Blog (2020) King 5 News. University of Puget Sound removes name of professor from on-campus museum. May 23, 2023 Miriti, Maria N., Ariel J. Rawson, and Becky Mansfield. "The history of natural history and race: Decolonizing human dimensions of ecology." Ecological Applications 33.1 (2023): e2748. Wohlforth, Charles. "Conservation and eugenics." Orion Magazine (2010). Yoon-Hendricks, Alexandra. University of Puget Sound to remove name of eugenics professor from museum. Seattle Times. May 19, 2023. Music from the show TrackTribe & Dyalla
Despite rapid environmental change, the foremost approach to ecological restoration is to find the elusive, historically-appropriate reference ecosystem as the target of ecosystem recovery. But, the emergence of novel ecosystems beckons new ecological science and political ecology as surprising species' relationships flourish out of dramatic anthropogenic change. There has been (maybe there still is) a debate within ecological restoration about both the existence of and how to restore ecosystems that some people think have crossed thresholds with no historical analog. Ecosystems that have ‘tipped' or exhibit ‘new' nature challenge our training and ecological theories while eliciting perspectives on what we value and respect, such as biodiversity and access. Mel PIneda-Pinto explores nature-based solutions, with a particular focus on issues of justice in ecosystems often overlooked and found in interstitial spaces, sometimes characterized as ruderal, wild, wastelands or unintentional. She is currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow at Trinity College Dublin on the project NovelEco in which they are co-designing an online citizen science tool to better understand novel ecosystems in cities. Mel has experience in social research methods, inter-transdisciplinary collaboration, systems thinking and exploring human-nonhuman nature interactions. Previous architectural and planning experience in the industry and not-for-profit sectors gave her skills in design, project management, stakeholder engagement, and technical abilities. Her research interests include urban ecological sustainability, urban ecology, social-ecological-technical systems, environmental and ecological justice, transformative capacity, sustainability, climate and just transitions, environmental and multispecies planning/design. Connect with Novel Eco https://noveleco.eu and on Twitter @NovelEco Pineda-Pinto, Melissa, et al. "Finding justice in wild, novel ecosystems: A review through a multispecies lens." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (2023): 127902. Gandy, Matthew. "Unintentional landscapes." Landscape Research 41.4 (2016): 433-440. Hobbs, Richard J., et al. "Novel ecosystems: theoretical and management aspects of the new ecological world order." Global ecology and biogeography 15.1 (2006): 1-7. Kowarika, I. "Novel urban ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation." Environmental Pollution 159.8/9 (2011): 1974-1983. Music from the show Quincas Moreira, Slynk, and TrackTribe
Renata Poulton Kamakura reminds us of the importance of nearby nature and the power in community that orbits around urban ecology. Renata is a PhD student at Duke University's Clark Lab, a NatureNet science fellow, and a NSF Graduate Research Fellow. Renata's current work is mostly within the realm of urban ecology. They have authored and collaborated on published research focused on the pace of tree migration and invasion in tallgrass prairies. Also, tree fecundity related size and age as well as indirect climate effects. Long story short, I also know Renata because they have some insights on phenology, growth, mortality and local adaptation of Pacific madrone. I cherish their contribution to the body of thought about madrone as well as their efforts at applying emergent strategy and expanding the possibilities for healthier urban forests in community with our neighbors. More about Renata and their current research on Duke University website https://sites.duke.edu/renatakamakura Kamakura, R. P., DeWald, L. E., Sniezko, R. A., Elliott, M., & Chastagner, G. A. (2021). Using differences in abiotic factors between seed origin and common garden sites to predict performance of Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii Pursh). Forest Ecology and Management, 497, 119487. From treating ash trees to neighborhood outreach to petitions, residents rally to protect the urban forest. Chicago Tribune. June 12th, 2022. ‘Urban areas are stressful': Ecologist shares how to help trees thrive amid city life. Spectrum News. March 23, 2022. The reimagine restoration store is now up! https://treehuggerpod.creator-spring.com | enter code REIMAGINE for 10% off until end of January 2023 It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp The music for the show you heard from Gunnar Olsen, Riot, MK2l, and Bad Snacks Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Some species walk into our spaces, uninvited – they don't belong. They can be trees we bring from the homeland to plant, insects that show up through international trade, or fish we stock for sustenance. However, when they liberate themselves from cultivation, they are portrayed as a potential threat to the economy or even challenge our conceptions of wild nature. This is a short presentation recorded in advance of the Partners in Community Forestry Conference that came to Seattle, hosted by Arbor Day Foundation. There is a growing underflow of writing and thought surfacing that grinds against the dominant thinking about how we not only talk about, but treat, our more than human relations. The words we use express our values, and are a portal to change how we treat the trees we do not think belong in our Landscapes. Organizing around "Just Language" is key first step to applying a lens of love, compassion and harm reduction to the practice of ecological restoration. The invitation is "What is the role for invasive species and what might they have to share for us?" Weekend Update: A Spotted Lanternfly on Being an Invasive Species - SNL https://youtu.be/K_x4soinsRQ Arbor Day Foundation Video of Just Language About "Invasive" Species Presentation Just Language in Ecology Education https://justlanguage.org It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Dr. Elies Gornish is an early career leader in the fields of arid land restoration and weed management and has published over 60 papers. Recently, she just self-published “A Kids Guide to Ecological Restoration,” what she believes is the first children's book on ecological restoration. Gornish is a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Ecological Restoration at the University of Arizona. The Gornish Lab focuses on developing practical strategies for effective restoration of dry land systems in the Southwest. She is also passionate about STEM inclusion and in 2018 become the Director of UA GALS (Girls on outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science). This new program focuses on providing science learning and leadership opportunities to traditionally underserved female high school students through backcountry programming. Elise Gornish profile | Gornish Lab | twitter A Kids Guide to Ecological Restoration It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Laura J. Martin is a historian and ecologist who studies how people shape the habitats of other species. She is author of Wild by Design: The Rise of Ecological Restoration. One will also find articles of hers in journals such as Environmental History and Science as well as featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times. She is currently an environmental studies professor at Williams College and now with the publication of Wild by Design in the rearview mirror, Laura is not digging into a global history of hormonal herbicides. Laura builds on scholarship that meets at the intersection of environmental history and science and technology studies. This blending of the sciences and the humanities s so essential. Wild by Design provides this crosswalk between various aspects of restoration. Laura J. Martin | historian and ecologist who studies how people shape the habitats of other species Wild by Design: The Rise of Ecological Restoration is available from your local bookseller | Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble “The Women Who Saved Wildflowers,” Sierra Magazine, June 2, 2022 "Earth Day is a Chance to Win the Messaging War Against Polluters," The Washington Post, April 23, 2022 “Is Humanity Doomed? That Depends On Us,” Los Angeles Times, 28 March 2022 The music for the show you heard from MK2, Astron and Noir Et Blanc Vie. It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Music on the show was from Twin Musicom, Bad Snacks, Text Me Records Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
My guest on this show is mother and grandmother, Renate Rain. She is the convener and healer behind the Puget Sound Plungers and certified Deliberate Cold Exposure guide. Renate described herself as just a person looking for relief from chronic pain problem when she slipped into the cool waters of Puget Sound. Alleviating pain came along with an ever-growing community she didn't even know she needed. What is Puget Sound and how cool is it? Puget Sound is a “sound” of the Pacific Northwest, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, and part of the Salish Sea. The cool measurement is an average annual temperature of about 10° C (50° F). Cool, clean water is the lifeblood of this complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with myriad connections to the open Pacific Ocean. Puget Sound Plungers on Facebook and Instagram Puget Sound Institute Salish Sea | Encyclopedia of Puget Sound Huberman Lab (2022). Using Deliberate Cold Exposure for Health and Performance. Podcast and YouTube. April 4. Quantum Biology Collective https://www.quantumbiologycollective.org/ Morozko Forge https://www.morozkoforge.com/ It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Music on the show was from MK2, Astron and Noir Et Blanc Vie Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
This is the episode where we discuss Indigenous Science with Binnizá & Maya Ch'orti' scholar Dr. Jessica Hernandez. Dr. Hernandez is a transnational Indigenous scholar, scientist, and community advocate based in the Pacific Northwest. Her work is grounded in her Indigenous cultures and ways of knowing with a background that ranges from marine sciences, land restoration, environmental physics and justice. Currently, one can find her completing a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Washington Bothell, a Climate Justice Policy Strategist at the International Mayan League and the Environmental Justice Representative on the City of Seattle's Urban Forestry Commission. Dr. Hernandez has been finding her way in academia and academy hasn't always embraced her ways of knowing and engaging with Western science. She has published some inspiring articles and is recent author of Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes with Indigenous Science. She weaves powerful personal stories and family histories that expand our conception of Indigeneity while centering ecofeminist voices of women, non-binary relationships and protectors of lands and waters. It also blends sharp and cogent critiques of western conservationism while also offering Indigenous models informed by case studies and a framework that elevates Indigenous leadership. Working at the nexus of climate science and justice Jessica tells us she is in the process of writing her second book, Growing Papaya Trees: Nurturing Indigenous Roots of Climate. Our conversation wanders from talking about her journey to becoming a scientist, supporting Indigenous-led movements that seek self-determination and autonomy, her current research at the intersection of energy and equity, specifically climate science to climate refugees. We also look back at efforts of hers in Seattle that informed her dissertation about Indigenizing Restoration in urban parks. Doctora Nature Website, Instagram and Twitter Native Land is an app to help map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages https://native-land.ca Hernandez, J. (2022) Fresh Banana Leaves - Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science- North Atlantic Books. Hernandez, J., Meisner, J., Bardosh, K., & Rabinowitz, P. (2022). Prevent pandemics and halt climate change? Strengthen land rights for Indigenous peoples. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(5), e381-e382. Hernandez, J., & Vogt, K. A. (2020). Indigenizing Restoration: Indigenous Lands before Urban Parks. Human biology, 92(1), 37-44. It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Music on the show was from NEFEX, Yung Logos, and Mini Vandals Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
treehugger has bounced from Julia Plevin's offer “what message might invasive species have to share for you” to the Just Language invitation to pay more respect and humility to them. Now Jenny Liou leads us through a critical rethinking of invasive species. This is the episode where we tell shories about identity/politics, our entanglement with weeds, the invasive vs. native ideology and more. Jenny Liou is an English professor at Pierce College and an avid naturalist and ecological restorationist. She likes thinking and writing about bodies – bodies of thought, the mineral body of the loess-covered plains where she grew up, bodies of water – the rivers along whose banks she has explored the Pacific Northwest and her family's history in China, the body of the Pacific which divides her from that part of her family. She lives and writes near that ocean in Tacoma, Washington. “Am I an Invasive Species?” in Hight Country News from July 9, 2020 Washington Native Plant Society South Sound Chapter – “The Invasion that Sustains Us: Himalayan Blackberries and Invasive and National Discourses in Native Plant Conservation” https://www.wnps.org/events/1527 Samples of Jenny's work and more on her website https://www.jennyhwayuliou.com Muscle Memory from Kaya Press https://kaya.com/authors/jenny-liou It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Music on the show was from DJ Freedem, Chris Haugen and DJ Williams. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Dr. Laura Smith is a geographer at the University of Exeter, U.K. She works across cultural geography and the environmental humanities, with research interests in ecological restoration and rewilding, the history and conservation of U.S. public lands, national parks, American literature, and environmental protest and activism. Exeter University Profile and Twitter Her first book, Ecological Restoration and the U.S. Nature and Environmental Writing Tradition: A Rewilding of American Letters, was published earlier this year, on the American environmental writers Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and Edward Abbey, looking at how the connections between writers and places, and the texts produced, have helped shape ecological restoration programs. Palgrave Macmillan Amazon.com Barnes & Noble Dr Smith takes us on an exploration of the entanglements between these famed writers and the places they focused they're writing on presented in her own storying—restorying—restoring framework on early American environmental literature. From her unique perspective, Dr. Smith lays out an intricate human geography that she says lead to and continues to impart “literary interventions in restoration politics.” She shows us how these early writings have been used and recycled far and wide by conservationists, activities, policymakers to defend U.S. public lands and ideas about wilderness, restoration and rewilding. The takeaway is that we should pay attention to environmental writing, because it has a powerful role in guiding references for restoration, practice on the ground or contributing to policy debates. These are the legends baked into our origin stories, ethical intentions, organizational missions and politics. This discussion is an opportunity to crack those letters open again to ponder where we came from collectively and reinvigorate our imaginations about what exactly we are conserving and with whom we are comrades in restoration. Walden Woods Project: https://www.walden.org Restore Hetch Hetchy: https://hetchhetchy.org Aldo Leopold Foundation: https://www.aldoleopold.org Friends of the Everglades: https://www.everglades.org Glen Canyon Institute: https://www.glencanyon.org Penguin Green Ideas book series: https://www.penguin.co.uk/series/grnidea/green-ideas.html Eden Project: https://www.edenproject.com It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Music on the show was from Cheel Stayloose and DJ Freedem, and DJ Williams. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Take a break from the world heating up and let's discuss our curiosity about cold. Human and more than human communities rely on a stable climate and cool, clean air and waters. My guest on this show is Dr. Jannine Krause. Dr. Krause is a naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist & host of The Health Fix Podcast. She specializes in helping clients boost their energy, metabolism & athletic performance with targeted cardiovascular training solutions. When not geeking out over health data she can be found experimenting in her kitchen or on an adventure in nature with her dogs & hubby, Joel. My buddy Dr. Krause was also a big supporter of treehugger podcast since Jump way back in late 2019, so you we have her to thank for encouragement and moral support to start the show. Puget Sound Plungers on Facebook and Instagram The Health Fix “Ep 179: The Secret to Staying Fit & Maintaining Your Passion for Life with Brad Kerns” Podcast Links to Susanna Søberg emphasis on just about everything winter swimming and “brown fat thermoregulation and cold-induced thermogenesis” Found My Fitness feat. Dr. Rhonda Patrick “Benefits of Cold-Water Immersion & Cryotherapy” 9-min video Huberman Lab “Dr Craig Heller: Using Temperature to Optimize Performance, Brain and Body Health” Podcast The Health Fix “Ep 157: How You Can Get Probiotics from Your Environment – Michael Yadrick” Podcast It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Music on the show was from Cheel and DJ Freedem and DJ Williams Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
This is the episode where we discuss our feelings of anxiety with climate change and building emotional resiliency with Dr. Leslie Davenport. She works as a climate psychology educator & consultant and lives here in Grit City. Her most recent book is called All the Feelings Under the Sun. Leslie Davenport's website www.lesliedavenport.com and Twitter Davenport, Leslie. 2021. All The Feelings Under The Sun. Magination Press. Climate Psychology Alliance North America https://www.climatepsychology.us Sarah Jaquette Ray. (2021, March 21). Climate Anxiety Is an Overwhelmingly White Phenomenon: Is it really just code for white people wishing to hold onto their way of life or to get “back to normal?” Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-unbearable-whiteness-of-climate-anxiety Mary Annaïse Heglar. (2021, November 7). Climate Grief Hurts Because It's Supposed To: We need to stop worrying about giving people hope and start letting people grieve. The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/climate-grief-hope Amy Brady's newsletter “Burning Worlds” about the climate crisis in art and literature Amy Westervelt's newsletter Hot Take about the climate crisis and all the ways we're talking and not talking about it. Britt Wray's newsletter “Gen Dread” about staying sane during in the climate and wider ecological crisis It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Music on the show was from Cheel and DJ Freedem Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Which tree species impacted by climate change are we getting nervous about? This is the episode where we talk about climate disruption, our anxiety & grief as witnesses to tree loss while also coming to terms with environmental change in discussion with a few members of the Forest Adaptation Network. Rowan Braybrook, Director of Programs for Northwest Natural Resource Group Jake Bentzen Biological Science Technician (Insects & Disease) Forest Service Northern & Intermountain Regions Forest Health Protection Joey Hulbert, Washington State University Ornamental Plant Pathology Program and Forest Health Watch Brandon Drucker, Restoration Ecologist with the City of Tacoma Passive Open Space Program “Change is constant. You can't stop change, control change, or perfectly plan change. You can ride the waves of change, partner with change, and shape change. Adaptation is long term or structural change in a creature or system to account for a need for survival. Adaptation is not about being reactionary, changing without intention, or being victimized, controlled and tossed around by the inevitable changes of life. It's about shaping change and letting changes make us stronger as individual and collective bodies. How do we get relaxed and intentional in the face of change?" adrienne maree brown from Holding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and Mediation Forest Adaptation Network https://www.nnrg.org/climateadaptation/forest-adaptation-network Forest Health Watch https://foresthealth.org Betzen, J. J., Ramsey, A., Omdal, D., Ettl, G. J., & Tobin, P. C. (2021). Bigleaf maple, Acer macrophyllum Pursh, decline in western Washington, USA. Forest Ecology and Management, 501, 119681. Michelle Ma. (2021, September 30). Bigleaf maple decline tied to hotter, drier summers in Washington. UW News. Lynda V. Mapes. (2021, July 11). Newly discovered fungus spores spurred by heat and drought are killing Seattle street trees. Seattle Times. University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (2020, October 23). Culturally competent approaches in conservation biology: A case study presented by the Washington Cascade Fisher Reintroduction. Presented by Tara Chestnut. Streamed live and recorded on YouTube. It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp Music on the show was from Cheel, DJ Freedem and DJ Williams Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Treehugger podcast is celebrating two years and 10,000 downloads! Working from a foundation of feminist political ecology, Marlène Elias questions who decides the sustainability agenda and urges all of us to pay attention to the power and politics that shape the values, meanings and science driving restoration. Marlène leads gender research and gender integration at the Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and Gender Research Coordinator for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry. Her research focuses on gendered dimensions of forest management and restoration, forest-based livelihoods, and tree resource management. An article by Marlène and comrades wrote in Spring 2021 caught my eye that was also the theme of a special issue in the journal Ecological Restoration called Restoration for Whom, by Whom? They work from a foundation of feminist political ecology which drills down on three pillars of power relations, historical awareness and scale integration. Elias, M., Joshi, D., & Meinzen-Dick, R. (2021). Restoration for Whom, by Whom? A Feminist Political Ecology of Restoration. Ecological Restoration, 39(1-2), 3-15. SER Webinar: Restoration for Whom, by Whom? Exploring the Socio-political Dimensions of Restoration Elias, M., Kandel, M., Mansourian, S., Meinzen‐Dick, R., Crossland, M., Joshi, D., ... & Winowiecki, L. (2021). Ten people-centered rules for socially sustainable ecosystem restoration. Restoration Ecology, e13574. Arranged roughly in order from pre-intervention, design/initiation, implementation, through the monitoring, evaluation and learning phases, the ten people-centered rules are: Recognize diversity and interrelations among stakeholders; Actively engage communities as agents of change; Address socio-historical contexts; Unpack and strengthen resource tenure for marginalized groups; Advance equity across its multiple dimensions and scales; Generate multiple benefits; Promote an equitable distribution of costs, risks, and benefits; Draw on different types of evidence and knowledge; Question dominant discourses; and Practice inclusive and holistic monitoring, evaluation and learning. It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show @myadrick via Paypal and Venmo and CashApp. Music on the show was from Cheel and DJ Freedem Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
It's First Lushootseed name is čaʔadᶻac aka Oregon white oak, Garry oak, or Quercus garryana. Join us on a deep dive on the intersections of urban development, environmental racism, organizing against tree loss, and the oak restoration imaginary. Oak savannas and prairies in the Willamette Valley-Puget Trough-Georgia Basin are one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. In the Pacific Northwest. We can confidently say we've lost about 95 percent of the oak and prairie habitat that existed in the early to mid-1800s. Local oak protectors have been challenging City of Lakewood on oak protections and developers on plans to build warehouses, etc. Garry oaks are part of an imperiled ecosystem. Lakewood has long settler history and lies adjacent to Joint Base Lewis McChord that has the largest remaining oak woodland in South Puget Sound. Tacome News Tribune. Neighbors rally to save native oak trees threatened by Lakewood warehouse proposal June 22, 2021. https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article252065168.html Lakewood Garry Oak Conservancy https://oak.eco Portland State University Heat Island Maps for Tacoma Earth Economics. 2020. Urban Heat Island Analysis: Tacoma, WA Cascade Prairie Oak Partnership https://cascadiaprairieoak.org Tacoma Tree Foundation webinar: Garry Oak Restoration w/ Brandon Drucker Editing for this episode provided by the wonderful Katie Dunn. Brandon Drucker was essential to production. It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show via Paypal www.paypal.com/paypalme/myadrick and Venmo https://account.venmo.com/u/myadrick Music on the show was from Cheel, Otis McDonald, Chris Haugen and DJ WIlliams. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Absence of species we feel belong in our lives gives rise to powerful emotions. "It's the feeling of environmental lost-ness and the potential found-ness that motivates decisions about recovering locally extinct animals," says Dr. Dolly Jørgensen, historian of the environment and technology and an environmental humanities scholar. Jørgensen's current research focuses on cultural histories of animal extinction, and in 2019 she published Recovering Lost Species in the Modern Age: Histories of Longing and Belonging (MIT Press). She is interested in how human technologies shape the world around us and how we come to understand what is "natural" and what is not. Dolly Jørgensen - Professor of History, University of Stavanger, Norway dolly.jorgensenweb.net and @DollyJorgensen Recovering Lost Species in the Modern Age: Histories of Longing and Belonging (MIT Press, 2019) Remembering Extinction research program website Journal Environmental Humanities Greenhouse environmental humanities research group at University of Stavanger It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show via Paypal or Venmo Music on the show was from Dan Lebowitz and Jeremy Blake and Soy Emilia Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Disrupted by enclosure of the commons and colonialism, people have had a relationship with trees via coppice and pollard for eons. This is the show where we discuss the role moditional “modern” + “traditional” methods play in ecological restoration. The methods we talk about on this episode are known as live staking, coppicing and pollarding. My guest on this episode is Alex Slakie who is a restoration ecologist, botanist, and herbalist. He currently resides on the shared lands of the Cascades, Clackamas, Wasco, Multnomah, and Chinook peoples in Corbett, Oregon. Alex is the head of Flora Northwest LLC, a business that supplies willow live stakes and seeds for salmon habitat projects, sustainably harvested wild medicinal plants for herbal companies, and interesting nursery plants for home gardeners. He grows and wild-tends willow coppices and stands of medicinal plants in the western Columbia River Gorge. Find Flora NW online at www.floranw.com and on Instagram @floranorthwest Alex studied ecology and sustainable agriculture at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. He became deeply interested in botany and restoration ecology while doing a work-study program at the Sound Native Plants nursery and has been following that pathway ever since. 15 years later, Alex is still wild-tending willow coppices for live stake production and is passionate about this almost lost art of forest management. On a book recommendation from Alex, I picked up William Bryant Logan's Sproutlands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees. Logan explains it by saying “From ten millennia to about two hundred years ago, every person in every forested part of the world would have known exactly what we mean by “coppice and pollard.” The idea is simple: when you break, burn or cut low the trunks of almost any leafy tree or shrub, it will sprout again. New branches will emerge from behind the bases, either from buds that were dormant, waiting for their cue to grow, or from twigs newly formed by the cambium.” Enclosure has a role to play in this story too. Over the course of several centuries, much of Europe's land was privatized. That is to say taken out of some form of collective ownership and management known as the “commons” and handed over to individuals = turned into capital. Grippingly, William Bryant Logan holds space for this in his Sproutlands book. He depicts how much of the English commons was in coppice and pollard when the crown and wealthy landowners began to enclose lands as early as the 14th century. Of course, this system was exported around the world in a variety of forms of colonialism. With it, we have lost some of art, culture and political ecology of coppice and pollard as well as the relationship we had with the land. A Short History of Enclosure in Britain in The Land: An Occasional Magazine about Land Rights. Summer 2009 The Tragedy of the Tragedy of the Commons by Matto Mildenberger in Scientific American April 23, 2019 Editing for this episode provided by the wonderful Katie Dunn It takes a community to keep a podcast going. Donate to the show via Paypal www.paypal.com/paypalme/myadrick Music on the show was from DJ Freedem Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Candace Fujikane leads us through Kanaka Maoli cartographies that articulates Indigenous ancestral knowledges via moʻolelo (historical stories), oli (chants), and mele (songs). Engaging in the art of kilo, observing laws of the natural order is based on longtime observation and recording in relationships with the almost half a million akua. The akua are the elemental forms, who guide the people in their daily lives and embody the lands, seas, and skies. Professor Fuijikane asserts, “abundance is expressed out of Kanaka Maoli restoration projects, as practitioners assert their capacity to determine their own decolonial futures…." Candace Fujikane is Professor of English at the University of Hawaiʻi. She received her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1996, and she teaches courses on Hawaiʻi literatures, Asian American literatures, and settler colonial and Indigenous politics. In 2000, she co-edited a special issue of Amerasia Journal entitled Whose Vision? Asian Settler Colonialism in Hawaiʻi, and that issue was expanded in 2008 into Asian Settler Colonialism: From Local Governance to the Habits of Everyday Life in Hawaiʻi. She has stood for Mauna a Wākea since 2011, testifying to protect the sacred mountain and standing on the frontlines against law enforcement in 2019. Just this year, she has published a new book, Mapping Abundance for a Planetary Future: Kanaka Maoli and Critical Settler Cartographies in Hawaiʻi. Mapping Abundance for a Planetary Future: Kanaka Maoli and Critical Settler Cartographies in Hawai'i Purchase Mapping Abundance from Duke University Press. Use the code F J K N E for a 30% discount on your purchase. https://hawaii.academia.edu/CandaceFujikane Editing for this episode provided by the wonderful Katie Dunn Music for the show you heard from was from Reed Mathis Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Forest gardens look and feel different than the forests farther from home or what one normally encounters on the NW Coast. Professor Chelsey Armstrong and her colleagues refer to these forests as novel ecosystems that have no natural analog - composed of communities of species that result from human agency, ecosystem engineering and the introduction of wildcrafted species from nearby regions. While Western science is catching up about these ecosystems, the original and contemporary Indigenous scientists have always known these forests have existed. Professor Chelsey Armstrong is a historical ecologist and archaeologist based out of Ts'msyen Laxyuup in northwestern British Columbia. She studies human land-use in the past and how those dynamics relate to the present — particularly towards Indigenous sovereignty and socially informed environmental justice and reclamation. Chelsey is assistant professor and director of the Historical and Ethnoecological Research (HER Lab) in Indigenous Studies at Simon Fraser University. Editing for this episode provided by the wonderful Katie Dunn Armstrong, C. G., Miller, J., McAlvay, A., Ritchie, P. M., & Lepofsky, D. (2021). Historical Indigenous Land-Use Explains Plant Functional Trait Diversity. Ecology and Society, 26(2). Historical and Ethnoecological Research (HER) Lab> https://www.chelseygeralda.com/ Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia Tended ‘Forest Gardens' from Smithsonian Magazine https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/indigenous-peoples-british-columbia-tended-forest-gardens-180977617/ 'Forest gardens' show how Native land stewardship can outdo nature from National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/forest-gardens-show-how-native-land-stewardship-can-outdo-nature Unearthing the Work of Indigenous Master Horticulturalists from The Tyee https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/04/28/Unearthing-Work-Indigenous-Master-Horticulturalists/ ‘Forest gardens' planted by Canada's Indigenous people before the 1800s still benefit ecosystems today from Popular Science https://www.popsci.com/story/environment/indigenous-forest-gardens/ treehugger listener survey: https://forms.gle/zJdFwcnXhqDe2uZLA improve your listening and help power future content! Music on the show was from Reed Mathis Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
I fortuitously got mixed up with this group called Just Language. Christopher Widmaier, Danielle Bunch, Lisa Fink and Celeste Williams interrogate our language around invasive species. Join in the dialogue and effort to make our conservation language more inclusive and purge terms like “invasive” and “alien” that have racist, prejudiced and xenophobic implications. Clayton County Water Authority and Green Collar Collaborations make this project possible. Just Language on Green Collar Collaborations https://greencollarcollaborations.com/index.php/just-language-in-ecology-education/. The following organizations, businesses, and individuals have provided resources to make this project possible. Clayton County Water Authority Green Collar Collaborations Brainstorm found here from Just Language Group https://padlet.com/edb343/1w8mhv0r0rcahrix Inglis, M. I. (2020). Wildlife Ethics and Practice: Why We Need to Change the Way We Talk About ‘Invasive Species'. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 1-15. Nicholas J. Reo & Laura A. Ogden (2018) “Anishnaabe Aki: An Indigenous Perspective on the Global Threat of Invasive Species” Sustainability Science Warren, C. R. (2007). Perspectives on the alien 'versus native' species debate: a critique of concepts, language and practice. Progress in Human Geography, 31(4), 427-446. 2021 King County Noxious Weed List is official (name changes) https://kingcountyweeds.com/2021/02/18/2021-king-county-noxious-weed-list-is-official/ Stop AAPI Hate https://stopaapihate.org/ Music on this episode was created by Jesse Gallagher and Chris Haugen Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Think of this show when you are dismantling structures. The settler state reorganized the Elwha river physically and threatened the well-being of its original inhabitants for over a century. After the successful dam removals on the Elwha River, Whitney Mauer critically assesses the outcome of the restoration in light of ongoing challenges faced by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. While the full benefits of dam removal take a long time, Dr. Mauer contends ecological restoration is unlikely to promote cultural resurgence “unless the structural basis of ecological violence and Indigenous futurisms of resurgence, self‐determination, and sovereignty are addressed.” Whitney Mauer is Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Her research crosscuts environmental studies, rural and development sociology, and Indigenous and American Indian studies. At the heart of Dr. Mauer's work are questions surrounding how environmental issues intersect with inequality and stratification, Indigeneity, community, and development. She is broadly interested in understanding how Indigenous conceptions, articulations, and practices of community ‘development' and well-being are shaped by relations of power and the physical structuring and restructuring of place. Her current research is focused on a collaborative project with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. In this project and recently published papers, she unpacks the settler colonial origins of dam building and examines resilience frameworks for understanding Indigenous experiences of ecological restoration. While Dr. Mauer is not a S'Klallam citizen, she prioritizes reciprocity and respect when developing and conducting research in the community. Her research practices and principles are influenced by the principles and concerns described in Linda Tuhiwai Smith's (2012) Decolonizing Methodologies, which commits to the intellectual and political self-determination and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. As such, Dr. Mauer recognizes the exploitive history of research in Indigenous communities and have worked to develop a research program that is engaged with Indigeneity, increases the visibility of Indigenous scholars, and co-constructs a research agenda with the community partners, in this case the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. Mauer, K. W. (2020). Unsettling Resilience: Colonial Ecological Violence, Indigenous Futurisms, and the Restoration of the Elwha River. Rural Sociology. Mauer, K. W. (2020). Undamming the Elwha River. Contexts, 19(3), 34-39. Mauer, K. W. (2020). Monopoly's winners and losers: Elwha River Dam construction as social closure. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 1-11. treehugger listener survey: https://forms.gle/zJdFwcnXhqDe2uZLA improve your listening and help power future content! Music on this episode was created by Reed Mathis and MK2. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Found on the western edge of Turtle Island, the Pacific madrone (qʷuqʷuƛəc) is the largest and most charismatic species in the family Ericaceae. It is a broadleaf-evergreen tree that is rarely dominant in our forests, but indicative of very interesting plant communities. Join me and the Arbutus ARME (pronounced like "army") to hear about the interspecies love story we share with qʷuqʷuƛəc (Pacific madrone) from a January 28, 2021 growing skills webinar hosted by Tacoma Tree Foundation. We celebrate this sacred and iconic tree to build a shared understanding about its cultural importance. We explore the complex interactions and patterns that arise in madrone forests that harbor biodiversity belowground and in the canopy. Importantly, we also highlight the adaptive capacity and resiliency of the species amidst climate disruption. Then, I bring in the core team of Arbutus ARME to address additional tough questions. Marianne Elliot is known as one of the few experts on this species. She is a Plant Pathologist with Washington State University Plant Pathology Program. Marianne has a special history with madrone research and is co-founder of Arbutus ARME. She plays a key role in identifying madrone diseases and encouraging madrone research and collaboration. Joey Hulbert joined the WSU Ornamental Plant Pathology Program at the WSU Research and Extension Center in Puyallup as a Postdoctoral Fellow funded by the USDA. He recently returned to the Pacific Northwest after spending four years in South Africa leading Cape Citizen Science. More about Arbutus ARME by visiting www.arbutusarme.org Thanks to Tacoma Tree Foundation for making space to highlight the relationship we have with madrone and building the skills required to help ensure we have a future for the species. TTF YouTube of “Pacific madrone: sacred, adaptive, emergent” https://youtu.be/begqlp9BeYc treehugger listener survey: https://forms.gle/zJdFwcnXhqDe2uZLA improve your listening and help power future content! Music on this episode was from the YouTube Audio Library: You heard from Chris Haugen and Dimanche Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
We cope with climate variability whether we acknowledge it or not in a variety of ways. On this episode, Brenda Clifton and I discuss the intentional ways practitioners are adjusting for climate change in restoration practice. This was a recording of a session I took part in at the January 19th virtual North Sound Riparian Conference. This event was hosted by the good people at the Skagit Watershed Council, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, and Skagit River System Cooperative. When I say Sound that means Puget Sound or the southern estuary of the Salish Sea, connected to the wider Pacific Ocean via the Strait of Georgia and Strait Juan de Fuca. Most the folks attending the conference were in the North Sound. Brenda Clifton is a plant ecologist with over 20 years of experience in plant biology and propagation. Ms. Clifton has a bachelor's degree in Botany and her master's thesis is in plant physiology. She is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist with the Society of Wetland Scientists. She has worked for the Skagit River System Cooperative for over 10 years. The Cooperative provides natural resource management services for the Sauk-Suiattle (soc suyattle) Indian Tribe and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Brenda manages the vegetation aspects of salmonid habitat restoration projects, including developing planting, vegetation management, maintenance and monitoring plans and running a nursery with over 15,000 plants. Lots of smart people were presenting and listening in on this conference. This event was recorded, so if you want to watch it the recording will be posted on the Skagit Watershed Council's website: https://www.skagitwatershed.org. Forest Adaptation Network: https://www.nnrg.org/climateadaptation/forest-adaptation-network/ treehugger listener survey: https://forms.gle/zJdFwcnXhqDe2uZLA improve your listening and help power future content! Music for this show was from Yung Logos Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Welcome to the Restoration Decade! Ann-Kathrin Neureuther recently joined UNEP as Communication Manager for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. She walks us through the Decade Strategy that will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The new U.N. Decade will officially launch on World Environment Day, on June 5, 2021. Ann-Kathrin's job is to communicate this gigantic restoration initiative that joins forces with the The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and U.N. Sustainable Development Goals focused on resisting climate change, protecting and improving the well-being of local populations, and preserving biodiversity. The Decade Strategy frames the problem like this: the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will not be achieved without large-scale restoration of degraded terrestrial, freshwater & marine ecosystems globally. The vision is a world where — for the health and wellbeing of all life on Earth and that of future generations — we have restored the relationship between humans and nature, by increasing the area of healthy ecosystems, and by putting a stop to their loss, fragmentation and degradation. Do you know whose land you are on? Open up https://native-land.ca right now to identify to whom the land belongs where you live, work and play. treehugger listener survey: https://forms.gle/zJdFwcnXhqDe2uZLA improve your listening and help power future content! Jeremy Bearimy: How Time Works in the Afterlife - The Good Place (Episode Highlight) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFm9ClqlGuo Music on this episode was from the YouTube Audio Library: You heard from Anno Domini Beats and Cheel. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Dr. Nicole Redvers endeavors to integrate Indigenous and culturally-appropriate medicine into Western medical practice. If healing our relationship with land is key to revitalize traditional health and wellness, could ecological restoration become a public health strategy for the future? Native Land https://native-land.ca/ Dr. Redvers is an author, mother, Indigenous health advocate and assistant professor at the University of North Dakota, Department of Family & Community Medicine & Indians into Medicine Programs. She was the first licensed practicing naturopathic doctor in North America who is Dene (a member of the Deninu K'ue First Nation Band). The Science of the Sacred: Bridging Global Indigenous Medicine Systems and Modern Scientific Principles by Nicole Redvers | Published by North Atlantic Books on 2019-03-26 Redvers, N., Poelina, A., Schultz, C., Kobei, D. M., Githaiga, C., Perdrisat, M., ... & Blondin, B. S. (2020). Indigenous Natural and First Law in Planetary Health. Challenges, 11(2), 29. Redvers, N., Yellow Bird, M., Quinn, D., Yunkaporta, T., & Arabena, K. (2020). Molecular decolonization: an Indigenous microcosm perspective of planetary health. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(12), 4586. International Journal of Indigenous Health https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/ijih/about First Nations Health Authority https://www.fnha.ca/what-we-do/traditional-healing Organisation for Noetic Ecology https://noeticecology.org Jennifer Redvers (Nicole's sister) thesis examines the cultural concept and role of the Land as healer in Indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut, and the importance of facilitating modern Land-based programs and activities for integrated health, education, and environmental outcomes (see below): Redvers, J. M. (2016). Land-based Practice for Indigenous Health and Wellness in Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. Or shorter version recently published Redvers, J. (2020). “The land is a healer”: Perspectives on land-based healing from Indigenous practitioners in northern Canada. International Journal of Indigenous Health, 15(1), 90-107. EcoHealth Network https://ecohealthglobal.org/ecological-restoration/public-health/ Music on this episode was from the YouTube Audio Library: Bodélé Depression (Mega-Chad Mix) by Jesse Gallagher and Spruce Tree by Ashley Shadow Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Dr. Robert Michael Pyle is a biologist and writer who has worked in conservation biology around the world. While the Xerces Blue butterfly disappeared in the early 1940s, in its honor Bob founded the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Contrary to the popular conservation cliché, extinction may not always have to be forever. In the year 2000, Bob published an article he called “Resurrection Ecology” suggesting the Xerces rise again. This proposal is not entirely fictional if we endeavor to rewild ourselves and address some important implications for ethics and justice in the process. The Native American Ethnobotany Database http://herb.umd.umich.edu “Resurrection Ecology” in Butler, Tom, ed., Wild Earth 10, no. 3 (Fall 2000). Republished by the Environment & Society Portal, Multimedia Library. http://www.environmentandsociety.org/sites/default/files/key_docs/rcc_00097010_3_1.pdf Culturally competent approaches in conservation biology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dzSglgAeq4 Pacific madrone: sacred, emergent, adaptive *Hosted by Tacoma Tree Foundation January 28, 2021 @12 PM PST Join me to hear about the interspecies love story we share with qʷiqʷəł (Pacific madrone). We will celebrate this sacred and iconic tree to build a shared understanding about its cultural significance. I will explore the complex interactions and patterns that arise in madrone forests that harbor biodiversity belowground and in the canopy. Importantly, I also want to highlight the adaptive capacity and resiliency of the species amidst climate disruption. *Find links to the meetup on Facebook https://fb.me/e/1T0GmN420 and people can register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xIzmsJCdSrGON9DRrzIWxw Visit the episode details at the treehugger website Music on this episode was Butterfly Launches from Spar Pole Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Shana Lee Hirsch investigates the Columbia River Basin of the past, the present and the sociotechnical imaginaries of the River in her new book. In this episode, we discuss emerging approaches to restoration and getting in right relationship with climate change. Last summer, UW Press published Hirsch's book: Anticipating Future Environments: Climate Change, Adaptive Restoration, and the Columbia River Basin. Shana is a Research Scientist in the Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering at UW. She has an interdisciplinary background in sustainability social science and water management and policy. Her work draws on participatory design methods and theories from science and technology studies. She is also Associate Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center, where she brings collaborative methods for understanding innovation to power remote communities. The Basin ecosystem provides for us, and Shana gets into the details about a subset of people who really care about the Basin in return. She provides insights into the everyday of restoration, the tools people use, and the emergent tactics of coping and getting in right relationship with climate change – which in turn changes us and the science itself. Within the current system people are trying to help. People. Love. Salmon. The strength of the River restoration is really the strength of that relationship with the fish and their connection with everything else. The restoration effort combines that love, the human wherewithal and resilience through adaptation. Hirsch, S. L., & Long, J. (2020). Adaptive Epistemologies: Conceptualizing Adaptation to Climate Change in Environmental Science. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 0162243919898517. Hirsch, S. L. (2019). Anticipatory practices: Shifting baselines and environmental imaginaries of ecological restoration in the Columbia River Basin. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 3(1), 40-57. Visit the episode details at the treehugger website Music on this episode was Freedom Trail Studio and DJ Williams on YouTube Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
A lot has happened in the past year since we first discussed microbiome rewilding with Jacob Mills. At this reunion, we chat about building our immune system, rewilding greenspaces equitably, cultural restoration, decolonizing science and restoration, and updates on Jacob's research to restore native soil microbiota to urban greenspaces and schools. Eco Restoration Network https://www.ecorestorationnetwork.com NDN Science Show https://ndnscienceshow.wordpress.com/about/ Mills, J. G., Weinstein, P., Gellie, N. J., Weyrich, L. S., Lowe, A. J., & Breed, M. F. (2017). Urban habitat restoration provides a human health benefit through microbiome rewilding: the Microbiome Rewilding Hypothesis. Restoration ecology, 25(6), 866-872. Selway, C. A., Mills, J. G., Weinstein, P., Skelly, C., Yadav, S., Lowe, A., ... & Weyrich, L. S. (2020). Transfer of environmental microbes to the skin and respiratory tract of humans after urban green space exposure. Environment International, 145, 106084. Mills, Jacob G. Nature needs people, but people need connection: Can microbes be the 'joining dots'? Australasian Plant Conservation: Journal of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Vol. 29, No. 1, Jun-Aug 2020: 31-33. Music on this episode was DJ Williams on YouTube Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Think you have a right to a healthy environment? You don't. Green Amendments For the Generations, led by Maya van Rossum, has been working to establish rights of all people to clean water and air along with a stable climate in our state constitutions. Elevating the environment on par with free speech, bearing arms and voting has the potential to empower constitutional change, protect our welfare and prevent environmental racism. Maya is also the Delaware Riverkeeper, leading the watershed-based advocacy organization, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, for 25 years in its efforts to protect the health of the Delaware River and its tributaries. Maya was a lead petitioner in the 2013 landmark Robinson Township, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, et. al. v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania case that breathed new life into Pennsylvania's long ignored environmental rights amendment. A skilled activist, attorney, strategist and community organizer, since launching Green Amendments For The Generations, Maya has assisted constitutional amendments to be proposed in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Vermont and West Virginia. Green Amendments for the Generations https://forthegenerations.org Get involved with Tacoma LNG Resistance: Hear about campaign updates and calls to action―to subscribe, just send an email to: standwithpuyallup-subscribe@lists.350seattle.org Ecuador is the first country to recognize Rights of Nature in its Constitution. The country rewrote its Constitution in 2008 and it was ratified by referendum by the people. Rather than treating nature as property under the law, Rights for Nature Articles acknowledge that nature in all its life forms has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles. Dr. David R. Boyd https://twitter.com/SREnvironment, the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment Music on this episode was DJ Williams on YouTube Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
As liberal democracies fail to address environmental problems, what solution does the Chinese model offer? China Goes Green is a new book that peers under the hood of the authoritarian state's ambitions to pursue "ecological civilization." Chinese scholars Yifei Li and Judith Shapiro join me to discuss their cautious optimism and deconstruct this unique type of developmental environmentalism. China's Massive Belt and Road Initiative Polity: https://politybooks.com/bookdetail/?isbn=9781509543113 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1509543120 The Economist Interview: https://www.economist.com/china/2020/09/12/chinas-authoritarian-approach-wont-save-the-environment China Dialogue: https://chinadialogue.net/en/cities/as-china-goes-green-should-the-world-celebrate-its-model/ Author emails yifei.li@nyu.edu and shapiro@american.edu Thanks for the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for providing the theme song. You can find all of their tunes at dumbthumbs.bandcamp.com. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
This episode delves into the intersections of climate change, community well-being, justice and restoration of our urban ecosystems. The focus is on urban heat and the challenge of heat islands. Treehugger is joined by Vivek Shandas who Professor of Climate Adaptation and Director of the Sustaining Urban Places Research Lab at Portland State University. Dr. Shandas' studies the effects of urban development patterns and processes on environmental health. By examining the assumptions about our built environment, Dr. Shandas supports communities in improving their adaptation from climate stressors, including extreme events such as urban heat, air quality, and storms. Vivek serves as Chair of the City of Portland's Urban Forestry Commission, and on several other local and national advisory boards. Visit this episode details at the treehugger website https://www.treehuggerpod.com/episodes/urban-heat treehugger mixtape on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7eToZ1T7SUzMYC4CktIEeF?si=uozZvq8tRIWu2Krq0788-g Bloomburg Life and Death in Our Hot Future Will Be Shaped by Today's Income Inequality By Eric Roston, Paul Murray and Rachael Dottle Hoffman, J. S., Shandas, V., & Pendleton, N. (2020). The effects of historical housing policies on resident exposure to intra-urban heat: A study of 108 US urban areas. Climate, 8(1), 12. New York Times. Earth is overheating. Millions are already feeling the pain. a series of photo essays documenting the outsize effect that extreme heat has on the poor and marginalized Thanks for the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for providing the theme song. You can find all of their tunes at dumbthumbs.bandcamp.com. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on the socials @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
The Pileated woodpecker is one of the quintessential forest species where I live. Their red crest helps them stand out in a crowd and the charismatic pecking at dead trees characterizes them as “ecosystem engineers.” They jumpstart a patchy mosaic of forest succession, facilitate biodiversity and are key to the recovery of some forest ecosystems. Listen in on this discussion in the suburbs of Seattle with Dr. John Marzluff. Dr. Marzluff is a James W. Ridgeway Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington. His graduate and post-doctoral research focused on the social behavior and ecology of jays and ravens. He makes corvids cool. He continues this theme through his current research that focuses on the interactions of ravens and wolves in Yellowstone. Dr. Marzluff has mentored over 40 graduate students and authored over 140 scientific papers on various aspects of bird behavior and wildlife management. A couple graduate and doctoral students such as Jorge Tomasevic and Tina Bluitt notably worked to investigate the object of our discussion – the Pileated woodpecker. Professor Marzluff is uniquely situated to speak about our topic. He has written five books and edited several others. His Welcome to Subirdia (2014 Yale) discovers that moderately settled lands host a splendid array of biological diversity and suggests ways in which people can steward these riches to benefit birds and themselves. His most recent In Search of Meadowlarks (2020 Yale) connects our agriculture and diets to the conservation of birds and other wildlife. Below is the most recent paper that prompted me to reach out to Dr. Marzluff: J Tomasevic & J Marzluff 2020. Roosting, reproduction, and survivorship of Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) in a suburban setting. Avian Conservation and Ecology 15 (1) Find John on Twitter @subirdia Thanks for the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for providing the theme song. You can find all of their tunes at dumbthumbs.bandcamp.com. Visit the this episode details at the treehugger website https://www.treehuggerpod.com/episodes/suburban-woodpeckers Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on the socials @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Early in 2020, UC Santa Cruz Professor Karen Holl published “Primer of Ecological Restoration” through Island Press. Karen is a season veteran of ecological restoration with her boots (and her students embedded) on the ground in Latin American and Californian ecosystems. She has created an accessible book that explains foundational concepts with care while also highlighting more advanced topics for reflection. Professor Holl has served as chair of the Environmental Studies Department at UCSC and is currently the faculty director of the Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History. Karen jokes that she has been in some form or another writing this book for 25 years and her repertoire of authored and contributed articles shows off her knowledge and experience in forest ecology in Latin America and chaparral, grassland and riparian systems in California. She oversees a long-term tropical forest restoration study in southern Costa Rica and has worked with students and collaborators in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Panama. Karen advises numerous land management and conservation organizations in California and internationally on ecological restoration. She further works to advance efforts to conserve tropical forest, in part by training students from Latin American countries. Island Press webpage for the book Primer of Ecological Restoration https://islandpress.org/primer-ecological-restoration 20% discount code ‘PRIMER' to be used at checkout Holl Restoration Ecology Lab http://www.holl-lab.com/ Professor Karen Holl on Google Scholar Tree planting is not a simple solution by Karen D. Holl and Pedro H. S. Brancalion | Science 08 May 2020: Vol. 368, Issue 6491, pp. 580-581 Science Podcast “Making antibodies to treat coronavirus, and why planting trees won't save the planet” Karen's piece starts about minute 14:00. Thanks for the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for providing the theme song. You can find all of their tunes at dumbthumbs.bandcamp.com. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
It is no longer science fiction. The future is now people. Can we respond quicker to disturbances and mitigate climate change by planting tough places with drones? Matthew Aghai joins me from Droneseed to demystify this ever-adaptable technology. This company is scaling up to what Matthew refers to as “terraforming-level operations using biomimicry” - package seed up with resources to survive, load it into a swarm of aircraft and bombs away – plant forests. Matthew Aghai is currently the Director of Research and Development at DroneSeed Co in Seattle. Previously his work as a consultant had sent him around the world to pursue reforestation including projects in the Central Midwestern US, intermountain US, the Pacific Northwest, the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, Europe, the Middle east and more. He has trained and practiced for over a decade as a nurseryman and restoration specialist. In addition to previous degrees in forestry and wildland management, he is a PhD Candidate at the University of Washington. Reforestation and native plant restoration have always been his mission. Learn more about Droneseed https://www.droneseed.com/ Join #TeamTrees at https://teamtrees.org or check out video from Mark Rober - former NASA engineer, current YouTuber and friend of science https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7nJBFjKqAY University of Washington Botanic Gardens' Ecological Restoration Symposium in Seattle, WA was postponed until June 16th. It will now be a remote meeting. The theme is Pollinators, Pests, and Prey: Considering the roles of and mitigating for the influence of invertebrates within regional ecological restoration efforts https://botanicgardens.uw.edu/education/adults/conferences-symposia/ecological-restoration-symposium Save the Date for February 8-11, 2021. The Society for Ecological Restoration Northwest and Western Canada Chapters present a Joint Regional Conference on Adapting Restoration Practices to a Changing Climate in Eugene, Oregon. I am organizing field trips, so please reach out to me if you have ideas about nearby sites to visit. https://chapter.ser.org/northwest/conferences/2021-regional-conference Thanks for the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for providing the theme song. You can find all of their tunes at dumbthumbs.bandcamp.com. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
On this episode I want to introduce you to Sean Rowe. He is a restorationist born and raised in Humboldt County, CA. Sean has a science communication-based business called Resonant Restoration that is currently doing the Resonant Restoration Podcast with his cohost, Kyle Sipes. The podcast focuses on topics related to the world of ecological restoration and includes interviews about specific projects occurring around the world. Sean is a Botanist with SHN in northern California. His work includes ecological restoration, wetland delineations, rare plant surveys, monitoring, and stormwater compliance. He is a qualified SWPPP practitioner (QSP), qualified industrial stormwater practitioner (QISP), and certified erosion, sediment, and stormwater inspector (CESSWI). Sean has a bachelors in ecological restoration and a minor in botany from Humboldt State University and was born and raised in Humboldt County, California. He has been fortunate to work on great endeavors such as the Salt River Ecosystem Restoration Project, The Willits Bypass Mitigation Project, and on the Prosper Ridge Coastal Grassland Restoration effort. The Resonant Restoration podcast focuses on topics related to the world of ecological restoration and includes interviews about specific projects occurring around the world. The show is produced in order to encourage discussion and collaboration in the field of restoration ecology with both practitioners and the general public. Episodes to date include wallflower restoration, floating treatment islands, forest revegetation using open source unmanned aerial vehicles, and beaver dam analogues in northern California. The show includes background information on types of restoration endeavors, an interview segment, a segment on California phenology, and a plant of the week. Resonant Restoration website resonantrestoration.com/ Resonant Restoration on Instagram instagram.com/resonantrestoration/ Resonant Restoration on Twitter twitter.com/restorationpod Are you a garden lover? Check out my @spokengarden podcast and blog https://spokengarden.com/ Thanks for the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for providing the theme song. You can find all of their tunes at dumbthumbs.bandcamp.com. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Forests can and do play an essential role in urban life in many places - 4 bil people live in cities world! Join my conversation with Sarah Low, Executive Director of the Tacoma Tree Foundation - an organization dedicated to community-powered urban greening in the South Puget Sound of Washington State. They provide a great template for community engagement around tree planting, tree care and integration of urban greening into the fabric of our lives. They are helping to shape our urban ecosystem. Some say the Earth told us to go to our rooms and think about it for awhile back in the early days of 2020. Many many people were forced to do nothing in order to protect the old, the weak and the vulnerable when SARS2 spread around the world. It has been a human crisis that called for solidarity. This interview was recorded in the early parts of 2020, just as the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day was just getting started. Even though a whole Earth Year of activities were being planned, the coronavirus put a small dent in the "normal" schedule of events. Tacoma Tree Foundation website https://www.tacomatreefoundation.org/ Tacoma Tree Foundation on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tacomatrees and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tacomatreefoundation How racism kept black Tacomans from buying houses for decades by Kate Martin in Tacoma News Tribune from 2018 Compare the historic redlining maps against the City's urban forestry canopy data City of Tacoma Urban Forest Management Plan https://www.tacomatreeplan.org/ Special Issue “The Science and Practice of Managing Forests in Cities” in the journal Cities and the Environment (CATE) Thanks for the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for providing the theme song. You can find all of their tunes at dumbthumbs.bandcamp.com. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod Review treehugger podcast on iTunes
Natural light from the sun is so vital to the health of every living thing. My guest on this episode is Dr. Travis Longcore. He is going to “illuminate” this topic of the ecology of light, especially focusing on impacts of artificial light at night. Light pollution doesn't just affect our ecosystems. The loss of darkness is linked to increased energy consumption and a disrupted connection with the night sky. There are important consequences for human health too. You can find out more about Travis by visiting his website travislongcore.net. twitter: @travislongcore #lightpollution And more about the Urban Wildlands Group at www.urbanwildlands.org. Links to explore noted in the episode: University of Utah in Salt Lake City developed a new undergraduate minor in dark sky studies in 2019 housed in the College of Architecture + Planning. Metro21: Smart Cities Institute at Carnegie Mellon Loss of the night Berlin, interdisciplinary research project about light pollution International Dark-Sky Association Draft strategy for the Restoration Decade is up and available to peruse and comment on. Available at www.decadeonrestoration.org/get-involved/strategy Thanks for the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for providing the theme song. You can find all of their tunes at dumbthumbs.bandcamp.com. Tell a few friends about the show and follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod.
Finally, an episode about forests. And climate. My guest Dr. Sally Aitken delivers a nuanced discussion that embraces the complexity of how climate has and will continue to drive change in our beloved long-lived tree species and plant communities. Sally Aitken is currently a Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Innovation, in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. In 2001, Aitken helped start the Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics at UBC. Broadly, she studies the population, conservation, and ecology of forests. More specifically she is deeply involved in large-scale multi-institutional, applied genomics project that use population genomics, common garden experiments and climate-mapping technologies to help guide reforestation decisions for new climates. As restorationists we make decisions about which plant seeds and other propagules to introduce to the land, or in some cases, the sea to assist the natural processes for ecosystem recovery. This episode is a a primer on the response adaptation strategies that exist that allow ecosystems to adapt to the changing climates they are bound to experience. Resources to explore that we mentioned Center for Forest Conservation Genetics and CoAdapTree Project: Healthy trees for future climates British Columbia Provincial webpage on “Climate-Based Seed Transfer,” this is replete with updates as late as 2019, video presentations and fact sheets on their science-based policy United States Forest Service Seedlot Selection Tool in the Climate Change Resource Center. Initial conceptualization and development was done by Glenn Howe, Brad St. Clair and Ron Beloin. The Walrus from December 2015 "Run, Forest, Run: Helping trees flee climate change" Scientific American from August 2015 "How to Move a Forest of Genes" Twitter/ @SallyNAitken Thanks for listening. See you in the woods.
Restoration ecologists may be the optimists of biology. We are often hopeful and confident about the future and our work. Brianne Palmer is back to discuss hope and doubt, environmental change, community, environmental heroes and gratitude. This conversation was jumpstarted by Brianne's 2019 Opinion Article called Restoration Ecology: The Study of Applied Optimism found in the journal Restoration Ecology. Thanks to the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for the theme music from their EP "In the Wild." You can directly support them by visiting Bandcamp. Keep up to date with treehugger podcast by following the show on Instagram and Twitter @treehuggerpod.
The Society for Ecological Restoration is a global community of restoration professionals all over the world. Bethanie Walder is our Executive Director, guiding the mission to expand restoration science, practice, policy and the community. The Society claims members in 81 countries and growing! You can be rest assured that while we work on our local/regional projects, there is also a small staff and consultants and other volunteers who are also helping to move the needle on restoration science and international restoration-related initiatives. We are striving towards net restoration gain in the face of rapid environmental change. If you want to find out more about the Society, head on over to www.ser.org. There is also a new restoration podcast in Cascadia. Check out Resonant Restoration at www.ResonantRestoration.com. You can always track treehugger podcast @treehuggerpod on Instagram and Twitter. Thanks as always to the Seattle band Dumb Thumbs for providing the theme music. You can find out more about them at dumbthumbs.bandcamp.com.
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