forests
Summer Lajoie: The Simplicity of Creation
Summer Lajoie merges artistry with nature, creating ephemeral art that captures the fleeting beauty of the natural world. Each creation reflects a moment of profound connection and presence.
For Summer, art is more than just a form of expression; it’s a vital ritual. Inspired by the transient works of Andy Goldsworthy, she engages with the environment, crafting art from the elements she encounters. This process focuses less on the final product and more on the act of creation itself.
Japanese “Forest Medicine” – Using Nature to Heal Yourself
The fountain of youth is a forest. Trees cast off years and grant health and cheer, or so transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson claimed in his 1836 essay “Nature.” ”In the woods,” he wrote, “I feel that nothing can befall me [. . .] which nature cannot repair.”
Indeed, research shows that trees really do have healing powers. For one thing, they release antimicrobial essential oils, called phytoncides, that protect trees from germs and have a host of health benefits for people.
Untold Secrets of Healing Forests
Tens of thousands of unexplored forest plants may hold the key to new therapeutic drugs for curing a planet rocked by pandemics and new diseases.
They called it Project 523 after its start date, 23 May, 1967. Back then, it was classified as a top-secret state mission, blessed by Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. The Vietnam War was in full swing, and China’s ally Ho Chi Minh, the Prime Minister of North Vietnam, was losing large numbers of soldiers to malaria. He petitioned China to help find a cure for it.
About 600 scientists, including military personnel, scientists and practitioners of Western and traditional Chinese medicine, were convened and divided into three teams: one for conducting clinical studies, one for looking into traditional Chinese medicine and the third for developing synthetic compounds. Among their goals was a cure for chloroquine-resistant malaria.
What is Forest Bathing?
Check out this video by Cascadia Forest Therapy to discover the magical healing powers of nature.
Daniel Beltrá: Capturing Earth’s Beauty and Humanity’s Impact
Daniel Beltrá, a Madrid-born photographer now calling Seattle, Washington, his creative haven; has a distinctive approach to his photography. His most captivating works are large-scale photographs taken from the air, providing viewers with a sweeping panorama of our world’s wonders and woes.
His unwavering passion for conservation can be seen from this elevated vantage point as he skillfully reveals the contrast of nature’s magnificence and humanity’s destructive footprint.
Deforestation 101
Forests cover about 30% of the planet, but deforestation is clearing these essential habitats on a massive scale. What is deforestation? Find out the causes, effects, and solutions to deforestation.
Sebastião Salgado’s Monochromatic Odyssey
Sebastião Salgado, known for his astonishing monochrome images that capture the raw core of human existence and the marvels of nature, has made an enduring impact on the realm of photography.
Born on February 8, 1944, in Aimorés, Brazil, Salgado’s journey towards becoming a renowned photographer was not a straightforward one. Initially, he pursued a career in economics and obtained a master’s degree in the field. However, his wife Lélia Wanick Salgado bought a Pentax Spotmatic II camera and once Sebastião picked it up – his life was never the same.
Trillion Trees: Communities Working to Restore Forests
In 2019, Trillion Trees partner The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) received support from Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees, to restore tree cover to Tanzania’s Southern Highlands. Working in collaboration with district council and community-based organizations, the project aims to restore degraded areas, protect water catchments and create community woodlots, with the ambition of planting 900,000 new trees over two years, making a lasting difference for people, nature and the climate.
Guardians of the Forest
In September 2018, indigenous and local community leaders from Latin America and Indonesia, the Guardians of the Forest, travelled to California with a mission to …
Indigenous Peoples’ Role in Protecting Forest Health
Nearly a quarter of the world’s population, or about 1.6 billion people, depend on forest resources to sustain their livelihood. This number includes an estimated 60 million who are members of indigenous groups. The worldviews of most indigenous cultures include a sacred obligation to serve as stewards of a healthy forest that can sustain its inhabitants for generations.
Indigenous peoples have been effectively managing their forests since “time immemorial,” yet governmental and scientific forestry experts have only recently begun to seek out the knowledge that indigenous peoples have about environmental management.