Below the Canopy

Community Forests International

“Below the Canopy” explores the relationships between people and the forests they care for, with a particular focus on the Wabanaki forest—a special forest type found across the northeast of Canada and the United States. Intensive forest management since colonization has degraded what was once a diverse and resilient forest while creating challenges for the communities who are most reliant on forests for their livelihoods. In this podcast, host and forest ecologist Megan de Graaf speaks to experts from the region to understand how we got here and how we might start to restore the forest to its former abundance. The series paints a hopeful vision for forests in the region, offering lessons for forest stewardship across Turtle Island. This podcast is part of Community Forests International’s Common Ground Project, which seeks to build solidarity between settler and Indigenous communities through forest care. read less
ScienceScience

Episodes

Conjuguer foresterie écologique et viabilité économique avec Mathieu LeBlanc
18-11-2022
Conjuguer foresterie écologique et viabilité économique avec Mathieu LeBlanc
« C’est quoi le pire qui pourrait arriver? » C’est ce que l’épouse de Mathieu LeBlanc lui a demandé quand il a quitté son emploi et fondé une compagnie de foresterie au Nouveau-Brunswick en 2008. Le pays connaissait une crise financière, la demande de produits du bois avait dégringolé et l’industrie forestière en souffrait. Malgré ces difficultés, le pari de Mathieu était bien placé : sa compagnie, ACFOR, est l’une des compagnies forestières écologiques les plus prospères au Nouveau-Brunswick.Dans cet épisode de Sous la canopée, Mathieu nous fait connaître sa motivation à fonder ACFOR, nous dit pourquoi sa compagnie a si bien réussi et nomme les ingrédients essentiels de la viabilité économique d’une foresterie écologique.  Ressources et documentation :           Prescriptions sylvicoles pour la résilience aux changements climatiques de la forêt Wabanaki, Community Forests International, 2022Notre forêt en transformation, Community Forests International, 2020Borealization of the New England – Acadian Forest: a review of the evidence (La boréalisation de la forêt Acadienne /de Nouvelle-Angleterre : examen des faits probants), Noseworthy, J. & T.M. Beckley, Environmental Reviews, 2020.Healing while harvesting (Guérir en récoltant), magazine Canadian Forest Industries, 2015Merci au gouvernement du Canada pour son financement en soutien à ce balado.Illustrations dans le balado : Emma Hassencahl-Perley et Erin Goodine.Pour appuyer Community Forests International, rendez-vous à : https://forestsinternational.org/donate/.
Bridging Indigenous knowledge and Western science with Suzanne Greenlaw
20-09-2022
Bridging Indigenous knowledge and Western science with Suzanne Greenlaw
There is a growing interest in managing natural resources like forests and waterways using both Indigenous ecological knowledge and Western scientific knowledge. While the intent behind these efforts is often well-meaning, the actual application and integration of these practices does not always take full account of the values and needs of Indigenous peoples.In this episode, Megan interviews Suzanne Greenlaw, a citizen of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and a PhD candidate in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine. In her research, Suzanne weaves Wabanaki ecological knowledge and Western scientific knowledge to improve access to culturally significant plants, such as basket-quality black ash trees and sweetgrass. Suzanne shares her experience integrating Indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge into natural resource management and the challenges she has observed throughout her career.Resources and further reading:Wabanaki Basketmakers Want to Show That Harvesting Sweetgrass Can Be Sustainable, Jennifer Mitchell, Maine Public, 2018Indigenous stewardship should be central to conservation efforts, international study finds, University of Maine News, 2021Gathering Sweetgrass and Renewing the Past: How Science at Acadia Is Making a Course Correction, Catherine Schmitt, National Park Service, 2021"The Borer and the Basket", video from Community Forests International, 2022We would like to acknowledge the Government of Canada for supporting this project.Podcast artwork by Emma Hassencahl-Perley and Erin Goodine.To support Community Forests International, please visit: forestsinternational.org/donate.