How trees talk to each other | Suzanne Simard

"A forest is much more than what you see," says ecologist Suzanne Simard (author of the book “Finding the Mother Tree”).

Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an astounding discovery — trees talk, often and over vast distances. Learn more about the harmonious yet complicated social lives of trees and prepare to see the natural world with new eyes.

A Forest Garden With 500 Edible Plants Could Lead to a Sustainable Future | Short Film Showcase | Martin Crawford

Instead of neat rows of monoculture, forest gardens combine fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables together in one seemingly wild setting. This type of agroforestry mimics natural ecosystems and uses the space available in a sustainable way.

UK-based Martin Crawford is one of the pioneers of forest gardening. Starting out with a flat field in 1994, his land has been transformed into a woodland and serves as an educational resource for others interested in forest gardening. This short film by Thomas Regnault focuses on Crawford's forest garden, which is abundant, diverse, edible, and might be one answer to the future of food systems.

The man who grew his own Amazon rainforest - BBC World Service

A corner of the Amazon that had been cleared and used as farmland has been restored to rainforest. The man who owns it, Omar Tello, gave up his job as an accountant and spent 40 years recreating a patch of pristine forest in Ecuador, stretching just a few hundred metres in each direction.

He’s trying to encourage other landowners to do the same, so they can turn the tide of deforestation.

All the fruit — Youtube channel

Sdravko Lalov is a botanist who travels the world, recording rare fruits and their culture, and then sharing his findings by video on his Youtube channel.

It’s a very informative and entertaining resource to find out more about rare and exotic fruits of the world, and it even includes fruit tastings and tips on foraging for fruit.

The secret language of trees - Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard

Learn how trees are able to communicate with each other through a vast root system and symbiotic fungi, called mycorrhizae.

Most of the forest lives in the shadow of the giants that make up the highest canopy. These are the oldest trees, with hundreds of children and grandchildren. They check in with their neighbours, share food, supplies and wisdom gained over their lives, all while rooted in place. How do they do this? Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard explore the vast root system and intricate communication of trees.

Miyawaki Magic: From Barren Land to Dense Forest | Paani Foundation

A barren land becomes a thriving ecosystem in just two years! Watch the journey and impact of Paani Foundation's Miyawaki forest in Nhavi Budruk village, India.

The Miyawaki forest growing method, pioneered by Japanese ecologist Akira Miyawaki, is a method of creating a fast-growing forest in just 2-3 years. After selecting a plot of land carefully, 2,000 saplings were planted in a dense method, close to each other. This creates a competition for sunlight and air amongst the saplings, and results in faster growth.

At the time of the video (September 2020), this forest was three years old, and was frequented by birds, bees, insects and butterflies. Watch this beautiful transformation for yourself.

Forest Man

Since the 1970's Majuli islander Jadav Payeng has been planting trees in order to save his island. To date he has single handedly planted a forest larger than New York’s Central Park. His forest has transformed what was once a barren wasteland, into a lush oasis.

Humble yet passionate and philosophical about his work, Payeng takes us on a journey into his incredible forest.