Signals from Scandinavia
Will forests become our last refuge or our shared destiny?
Forest Futures Scenario # 1
How might we consider two contrasting yet interconnected possible futures for human-forest relationships?
In a scenario in which the accelerating impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation have pushed humanity to the brink, we may be forced to seek shelter and sustenance in the remaining pockets of resilient forest ecosystems.
In this scenario, forests serve as the final strongholds of nature’s abundance and regenerative power, offering a vital lifeline to human communities in a world facing ecological collapse.
The alternative scenario sees forests as our shared destiny — a more hopeful and proactive vision, in which humanity has awakened to the essential role of forests in sustaining all life on Earth, and has made a conscious choice to align our future with the health and flourishing of these ecosystems.
In this scenario, we have learned to see ourselves as an integral part of the intricate web of relationships that make up forest communities, and have developed new ways of living, working, and creating in harmony with these vital landscapes.
In juxtaposing these two possibilities, we confront the urgency and magnitude of the ecological challenges of our time, whilst at the same time creating space to imagine and move toward regenerative futures.
The fate of forests and humanity are inextricably linked, and the choices we make will determine whether we see forests as a last resort or as a shared path forward.
The scenario question calls us to think deeply about the kind of relationship we want to have with forests and to consider the bold and creative steps we must take toward a scenario in which both people and forests thrive.
Forest Futures
The Living Forest | How might we reimagine forest futures?
Scenario # 1 | How might we consider two contrasting yet interconnected possible futures for human-forest relationships?
Scenario # 2 | Can we rewrite our story from conquerors of forests to co-creators with nature?
Scenario # 3 | In a world of virtual escapes, will forests be where we remember our roots?
