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157 - Can Tree Planting Help Solve The Climate Crisis with Lauren Oakes

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157 - Can Tree Planting Help Solve The Climate Crisis with Lauren Oakes

Join host Matthew Kristoff on YourForest Podcast for an inspiring conversation with Lauren Oakes, scientist, storyteller, and author of Tree Keepers: The Race for a Forested Future. This thought-provoking episode explores the creation and maintenance of healthy forest ecosystems as a vital solution to climate change and biodiversity loss. Lauren delves into the complexities of tree planting versus forest restoration, emphasizing thoughtful stewardship, community engagement, and sustainability. Drawing from extensive research and personal experiences, she highlights how forests contribute to carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and community well-being. Learn actionable strategies to support reforestation and foster a resilient, forested future. Don’t miss it!

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156 - How Salmon Shape Ecosystems–Impacts from Forestry w/ Dr. Jonathan Moore and Christian Carson

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156 - How Salmon Shape Ecosystems–Impacts from Forestry w/ Dr. Jonathan Moore and Christian Carson

Forests play a crucial role in supporting salmon habitats, providing essential services like water filtration, temperature regulation, and habitat structure. Healthy riparian zones, the forested areas along rivers and streams, protect water quality and offer shade that keeps water cool for salmon. However, forestry practices, especially logging near water bodies, can significantly disrupt these delicate ecosystems. Changes in stream flow, increased water temperatures, and habitat loss can all jeopardize salmon populations, which are vital to local ecosystems, wildlife, and economies.

Dr. Jonathan Moore, a professor at Simon Fraser University and leader of the Salmon Watersheds Lab, has dedicated his research to understanding the complex relationship between forestry, climate change, and salmon habitats. Along with graduate researcher Christian Carson, he focuses on how riparian zones influence water quality and salmon survival.

In today’s episode, we explore how forestry impacts salmon habitats, the importance of riparian zones, and strategies for balancing economic needs with ecological health.

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155 - Monetizing Ecosystem Services for Improved Forest Management with Mark Anielski

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155 - Monetizing Ecosystem Services for Improved Forest Management with Mark Anielski

Forests offer much more than timber. They provide essential services like clean air, water filtration, biodiversity, and wildlife habitats. However, these benefits, known as "non-market" values, often go unmeasured because they don't have a direct price.

Traditional economics usually overlook these values, focusing only on the financial gains from timber. This narrow view can harm ecosystems and prevent us from recognizing forests' full worth.

Mark Anielski, a respected forest and wellbeing economist, has spent over 30 years working on ways to measure these hidden benefits. He collaborates with governments, nonprofits, and First Nations to help bring non-market forest values into the economy.

This article will explore Mark's insights on forest ecosystem value, examining why GDP falls short and how we can prioritize ecosystem health. We will also discuss incentives for sustainable forestry, wildfire prevention, and other ways to protect these vital resources.

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154 - Two-Eyed Seeing with Dr. Cristina Eisenberg

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154 - Two-Eyed Seeing with Dr. Cristina Eisenberg

In this episode of YourForest podcast, host Matthew Kristoff engages with Dr. Cristina Eisenberg to explore the powerful concept of "Two-Eyed Seeing." Dr. Cristina Eisenberg is an Associate Dean at Oregon State University, specializing in tribal initiatives and climate resilience. As a community ecologist with Māori and Western Apache heritage, she combines Indigenous and Western knowledge to address environmental challenges.

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153 - Learn Contemplative Forestry with Jason Brown

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153 - Learn Contemplative Forestry with Jason Brown

In this episode of the Your Forest podcast, host Matthew Kristoff speaks with Dr. Jason Brown, an environmental ethicist and lecturer in religious studies, about "contemplative forestry." They explore how blending mindfulness with ecological understanding can foster a deeper connection to forests. Jason shares his journey into this unique field, emphasizing the spiritual and cultural dimensions of forestry.

Dr. Jason Brown is a lecturer at Simon Fraser University, specializing in the intersection of religion, ethics, and ecology. With a background in anthropology, forestry, and ecological theology, Jason's work focuses on integrating spiritual practices into environmental management, promoting a holistic approach to forestry.

Matthew and Jason discuss the concept of "contemplative forestry," which combines mindfulness with ecological practices. They explore the balance between work and contemplation, the importance of recognizing forests' intrinsic value, and how indigenous practices can inform a more reciprocal relationship with nature. The episode also touches on broader themes like climate change and the role of spirituality in environmental stewardship.

152 - Why Insects Matter–Forest Health | Insights From Caroline Whitehouse

152 - Why Insects Matter–Forest Health | Insights From Caroline Whitehouse

In this episode of the YourForest podcast, host Matthew Kristoff sits down with Caroline Whitehouse, a forest health specialist with the Government of Alberta. They dive into the world of forest pests, focusing on the ecological importance of insects and how they contribute to forest resilience. Caroline shares her unique journey into entomology, emphasizing the need to appreciate insects not just as pests but as vital components of our ecosystems.

Caroline Whitehouse is a forest health specialist with the Government of Alberta, where she monitors and manages forest health, particularly in relation to insect populations. She is also completing her Ph.D., focusing on the role of insects in forest ecosystems. Caroline’s work highlights the importance of understanding and managing forest pests within the broader context of ecological health and resilience.

Matthew and Caroline explore the complex world of forest pests, discussing how insects like the mountain pine beetle play crucial roles in forest ecosystems. They talk about the challenges of managing these pests, the impact of climate change, and the importance of creating resilient landscapes. Caroline explains how disturbances, whether caused by insects or fire, are necessary for maintaining healthy forests. She also touches on the need for better monitoring and research to understand the full scope of insect biodiversity and conservation.

151-Local Sustainability with Basil Camu

151-Local Sustainability with Basil Camu

Do you want to support healthy ecosystems, and create a legacy that can last? Me too. Start with your lawn, then your community, then see how you feel. Basil Camu is an expert in local rewilding and today he is here to share his passion for natural ecosystems and how you can create a bounding oasis of local biodiversity literally in your back yard! Think native! Flowers, grasses, forbs, shrubs, trees, everything helps!

I often get so wound up in forests and how we manage them that I forget that my yard, and community, can be a place for nature as well. I am now officially growing trees in my back yard with the intention of rewilding my property, and hopefully sharing that passion with others.

150-Reconciliation in Forestry with Percy Guichon

150-Reconciliation in Forestry with Percy Guichon

If you are looking for inspiration, look no further than the story Percy Guichon was willing to share with us. Through hardship and discrimination, pain and suffering, a few First Nations were able to create thriving communities out of hard work and ingenuity. Percy came on the show to share his personal story, but also that of his Nation and the success they have had building forestry enterprises that look out for land and give back to the community. Reconciliation takes lots of forms, Percy’s story is about collaboration and thinking outside the box.

149-Valuing Nature with Max Nova

149-Valuing Nature with Max Nova

Private landowners are often forgotten during our discussions on sustainable landscapes. These lands are often overshadowed by huge swaths of forest that are managed by government or large corporations. The legislation and tools available to private landowners are sparse and confusing. So, how do we give small private landowners the tools they need to contribute to a sustainable future? We pay them to do the right thing.

148-Wildfire Coexistence with Lori Daniels

148-Wildfire Coexistence with Lori Daniels

Wildfire has always been here, and humans have always had a relationship with it. These days, we have recognized that our relationship to fire has been less than ideal. Wildfire smoke has consumed our summers, wildfire threat has persisted in our minds, and there seems to be no end in sight. So, how do we begin to change our relationship to fire? How do we go from surviving it, to thriving with it? The knowledge exists, the solutions are there, how do we make it happen? Transformational change is hard.

147-Emulating Natural Disturbance with Ellen Macdonald

147-Emulating Natural Disturbance with Ellen Macdonald

Nature knows best…right? So, our forest management strategies should try to emulate nature? That’s what we used to think. Unfortunately, our ideas on how to emulate natural disturbance rarely result in something that acts like a natural disturbance. Bottom line, we are not fire, and we want different things from fire, so we need to not act like fire. We have had some good ideas, and our minds were in the right place, but it is now time to shake things up. Let’s put that big head of ours to use and come up with something that would make mother nature proud.

146-The Life Beneath Our Feet with Cindy Prescott and Sue Grayston

146-The Life Beneath Our Feet with Cindy Prescott and Sue Grayston

In forest management, we spend a lot of time on the things we can see; charismatic megafauna, trees, pests and plants. But what about the things we can’t see? What if I told you there was an entirely unexplored ecosystem below our feet? One that has more biodiversity than we can imagine. This community is responsible for half of the carbon sequestration of the forest, and the maintenance of ecosystem function for above ground species. This life beneath our feet is as much responsible for the forests we love as the biggest trees and the cutest caribou. Let’s show it some love. 

145- The Landscape Ecology of Institutions with Ira Sutherland

145- The Landscape Ecology of Institutions with Ira Sutherland

What stands in the way of the future of sustainable forest management? There are many answers to this question, but the deepest answer may be colonialism. The very structure of our governing bodies and institutions have made it very difficult to try new things. It is possible that our colonial system of organization and decision making now stands in the way of progress. Organizations have to fight against the system to make new decisions, and move in new directions. The first thing we have to do is recognize the problem.

144-Empathy For Land with Jim Lane

144-Empathy For Land with Jim Lane

As modern culture expands, wilderness dwindles in its wake. It has become more challenging to create empathy for land through real experience. Luckily, there are people like Jim Lane. Jim teaches an Ecology and Conservation course for High School students. His approach gets students out in the bush to experience nature first hand. They learn about scientific observation, interconnectedness, ecology, history and colonialism all through observing nature. All this without leaving school property.

143-Climate Change and The Boreal Forest with Miguel Montoro Girona, Sylvie Gauthier, Guillaume Grosbois

143-Climate Change and The Boreal Forest with Miguel Montoro Girona, Sylvie Gauthier, Guillaume Grosbois

The Boreal Forest is the worlds LARGEST forested biome! Understanding the inner workings of such a callosal giant can be overwhelming. Now add climate change to the mix. What does the future hold? Luckily, an enormous team of researchers have banded together to create this incredible book that details what we need to do to keep the Boreal Forest healthy, and thriving, for the foreseeable future. Did I mention this incredible resource is completely FREE? See show notes for that link.

142- Achieving Tree Equity with American Forests

142- Achieving Tree Equity with American Forests

Why is tree equity important? They are just trees, right? So what? They don’t impact health, wealth, quality of life? They just look good!

Well, in fact trees do ALL of these things. They drastically reduce deadly heatwaves, reduce breathing problems, shelter your home from the elements, reduce drainage costs, increase your mood, and save you money in all kinds of other ways. Now a new tool shows us which communities are receiving these benefits and which are not. Urban communities in particular are dangerously low on tree cover. We can help deliver basic human rights to those that need it just by planting trees.

141-The Paradigm Shift with Garry Merkel

141-The Paradigm Shift with Garry Merkel

How we value forests is changing, and our management strategy is often playing catch up. As a result, forest management in British Columbia is undergoing a paradigm shift. It is a values shift. A more holistic approach to managing forests that accounts for more than just the sustainability of trees. Old Growth was the lighting rod, ecosystem health is the goal. Garry Merkel came on to give us the run down how things area changing and why.

140-Protecting Old Growth Trees with Greg Herringer

140-Protecting Old Growth Trees with Greg Herringer

What better way to learn about Old Growth and Big Trees then to talk to a guy who thinks about nothing else!? Greg Herringer spends his work time finding big trees, talking about big trees and creating programs to protect big trees. He also spends his free time going on expeditions to find more big trees. This guy is THE Big Tree Guy! We try to answer the question, how do we protect big trees in a world that need wood fiber? Greg sees a path forward.

139-Big Ol' Trees with Amanda Lewis

139-Big Ol' Trees with Amanda Lewis

Who doesn’t love Big Old Trees!? “You would have to be some kind of monster!” That pretty much sums up the episode. Author Amanda Lewis shares her journey around her book Tracking Giants-Big Trees, Tiny Triumphs, and Misadventures in the Forest. Amanda brought a breath of fresh air into the way I think about big trees. Her fun nature and transparent writing style make for a great dialogue and an even better read!

138-Ukraine's Forest and Russia's War with Brian Milakovsky

138-Ukraine's Forest and Russia's War with Brian Milakovsky

I never thought I would have to talk about war as a forest disturbance. I was not prepared, nor did I have the experience or knowledge to provide any relevant feedback. This discussion really opened my eyes to the complexity and devastating nature of war as a disturbance. How even when the war is over the consequences will last generations. The ecology will be forever shifted, and the dangers of unexploded ordinances will haunt the people of Ukraine for decades to come.

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