Let’s celebrate! The International Day of Forests
The 21st of March is the International Day of Forests. This year themed “Forests and Innovation”. We’d like to celebrate this occasion, by sharing our forest-related research with you.
Do you have a favourite forest? How does it smell? What do you hear when you visit, and how does it feel?
These are some of the question that our team may ask you, to understand your connections with trees. Not all of us study forests, but many do! And our research foci are diverse.
Would you like to visit Rwanda’s mountain forests, beech trees in Lower Saxony or mangroves in Bangladesh? We’ve got you covered. Dive into our team’s stories, as we celebrate the International Day of Forests with you.
Searching spring snowflakes in Germany’s beech forests
Dr. Marion Jay:
We head towards an asphalt chipping factory, somehow missing the path that we are looking for. The aim of today’s excursion: Finding spring snowflakes in the forest of Ossenberg-Fehrenbusch, a protected area near Göttingen, Germany.
We cut across a ditch, and walk along a field, to finally get there: A comfortable path winding up and down, trees on the right, the cultivated landscape on the left, and in front of us the two forest hills, stretching out their mysterious green to the horizon.
“Soon, the path winds down into a forest road, and the open view disappears. We enter the forest, or ‘undergrowth’ as local foresters used to call this area.”
Not far away is an abandoned railway line, whose embankment still rises amidst the forest. It’s a trace of the past — that today leads along a narrow, hidden path. Until the 1980s, this line connected the village of Dransfeld with Göttingen, a city of 118,000 inhabitants, 11 kilometers to the west.
The sky darkens and it will soon rain again, but that doesn’t bother us much under the beech canopy. We are looking for early bloomers — famous among the locals: especially the spring snowflake (Leucojum vernum) is said to cover quite some area here in March.
“A bit further, the beech stands on richer soils get replaced by hornbeams with mossy broad feet. A sign that people of the surrounding villages have used this forest as coppice for centuries.”
We drift — a little aimlessly — and discover a few beautiful spring blossoms, such as lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), until we finally land a hit quite by chance! Under the tall beech trees, the snowflakes stand out brightly, from a dark-green carpet of periwinkle (Vinca minor). Their appearance is a beautiful event that local people enjoy in spring season.
“Whenever I spoke to someone in the area, this particular flower was mentioned. For me, it has come to epitomise the relationship people have with the forest.”
Parts of the forests are still common property, shared by the citizens of the surrounding villages. These community forests are legacies of the ancient commons — unparcelled pastures and forests that represent a land use governance model that was once widespread in central Europe.
“Firewood is piled up — here and there — by the roadside. Nowadays, it’s a much sought-after forest product, for which demand exceeds supply.”
Traces of the past and of current uses, nature conservation, and seeing beauty in nature: all these connections between forests and people coexist at a time, as my interviews in that region for the RECONNECT project taught me. They are part of people’s attachment to the region, their sense of identity, and responsibility.
“Our relationships with nature are complex and rich. They motivate and enable us to conserve it for future generations.”
Experiencing the Sundarbans, the “world’s largest mangrove forest”
Md. Abul Bashar Polas:
30% of the world’s land area are covered by forests that provide a variety of ecosystem services. They support rural livelihoods, supply industrial raw materials, and protect people from hazards — such as tropical cyclones, high tidal surges, and coastal floods.
“The Sundarbans mangrove forest contributes to the livelihoods of 3.5 million people, living in its buffer zone.”
My PhD research aims to appraise and understand local people’s knowledge and perceptions, to inform the development of conservation approaches that are more robust. I believe that this can be achieved, by addressing social and ecological concerns in tandem.
“Local stakeholders are the main observers of changes in this mangrove forest. Many have witnessed the impacts of natural and human activities for decades.”
The objectives of my project are to spatially quantify the landscape values that the mangrove area delivers, appraise current and continued threats that degrade the mangrove ecosystem, and understand the contribution of the Sundarbans to people’s livelihoods and sense of place.
A recent highlight was my fieldwork in the mangrove forest. We identified several drivers and pressures that lead to the degradation of the Sundarbans, and their impacts on ecosystem services that the forest provides.
“We also appraised local stakeholder’s restoration responses — remedies, to reverse the degradation.”
A journey into forest landscape restoration
Ms. Gaelle Ndayizeye:
Welcome to an exciting journey into Rwanda’s forests! Known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse ecosystems, the country has become a global leader in forest restoration. Despite the threats of war and post-war deforestation, habitat degradation, and climate change, Rwanda has remained steadfast in its commitment to restoration.
“Rwanda’s forests and restoration sites are of great value for its people. These vital ecosystems provide essential resources and support local livelihoods.”
During our recent field trip to the Western Province, it was clear that eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus spp.) play an important role in addressing the urgent need for reforestation and restoration, underlining Rwanda’s commitment to tackling deforestation and its consequences, such as soil erosion and a lack of fuel and charcoal.
“However, a new era is emerging, as restoration actors transition to using indigenous trees, heralding a shift towards sustainability and biodiversity conservation.”
Local scientists and forestry experts expect this transition to bring greater benefits than relying solely on exotic trees. Our observation of indigenous tree nurseries confirms the beginning of this new era, which promises a brighter future for Rwanda’s forests.
“One aim of my PhD research is to understand the multiple values of restoration landscapes.”
During upcoming fieldwork in four districts of western Rwanda (Ngororero, Nyabihu, Rubavu, and Rutsiro), I will engage local stakeholders through participatory mapping (PPGIS). We expect their voices to reflect the deep connection between people and nature that can inform restoration efforts in Rwanda, and the challenges that need to be addressed. My results will play a key role in informing policy makers, on how to include these voices in future restoration processes.
Celebrating the world’s forests
Forests are much more than repositories of timber and resources. These vital ecosystems provide essential services like clean air, water, and climate regulation.
“By investing in forest restoration, countries can safeguard their natural heritage, and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change and promoting biodiversity conservation.”
Let us celebrate the world’s forests as guardians of life and symbols of resilience. Let us honor the tireless efforts of all those working to protect and restore these precious ecosystems.
“Together, we can ensure a sustainable and vibrant future where forests thrive for all.”
Authors
This article was written collaboratively by Dr. Marion Jay, Md. Abul Bashar Polas, Ms. Gaelle Ndayizeye, and Dr. Laura Kmoch.
Please share your own stories, using #ForestDay We would like to read from you.
Further reading
Dr. Marion Jay: Information about my work in the research project RECONNECT is available from this blogpost and the project website.
Md. Abul Bashar Polas: Please connect on Twitter and explore my blog post on the importance of local ecological knowledge in the Sunderbans, to get in touch and follow my research.
Ms. Gaelle Ndayizeye & Dr. Laura Kmoch: Take a look at our project website, for details on our research on restoration and nature’s contributions to people in western Rwanda.
Ms. Khant Sandar Htet: You can read my previous blog post, for details about my PhD research project, and past engagement with rice farmers from Myanmar.
