Logan and Albert Conservation Association

I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues

- The Lorax, Dr Seuss

Have you ever looked at trees and thought they just stand there and do nothing? It may seem that way, but in fact they are very busy doing a mixture of jobs that are really important.

What they are doing can be described as ecosystem services. Animal houses, air, rain and shade makers (If trees didn't breathe, neither could we. The health of our air, soil and water all relies on trees to keep it clean.) and even dead trees play an important role. Fallen trees provide shelter and food for many animals. See  

http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=3459 to read more

The human species has much to learn to live a truly sustainable life within the resources that are provided on the planet. All species have to breathe drink eat and have shelter.  Nature has provided us with opportunities to model our lifestyles without destroying what we enjoy.

Who is listening and watching with an open mind? 

Michael Pawlyn delivers his talk : Using nature's genius in architecture here.

There is no waste within nature's ecosysyem services. All products, species have a role to play in a closed loop system. Our throw away - out of sight - out of mind lifestyle is creating many challenging for the global and local human community to research and solve in creative innovative ways. Biomimicy - when we understand the process and system - potentially has answres for us.

Business as usual is not the solution. Rushing in and rebuilding and repeating errors and poor decisions from the past is not the solution.

Michael Pawlyn describes three habits of nature that could transform architecture and society: radical resource efficiency, closed loops, and drawing energy from the sun.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS for PEOPLE

International Year of Forests, 2011 (Forests 2011) website, is a global platform to celebrate people's action to sustainably manage the world's forests. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Here, you will find information regarding events being organised throughout the International Year as well as interactive web tools and resources to promote dialogue on forests.

300 million of the world's people live in forests.

Forests cover 31% of or planets land.

80% of terrestial biodiversity live in the forests.

Forest products trade is valued at over $320 billion.

The world's forests provide livlihood food and shelter and are responsible for cleaning our air and the water cycle which recycles the earth's water. They are invaluable to mankind for providing an environment where in we can thrive. Man has yet to learn within the parameters of the global system to live in harmony with nature - using her bounty in a sustainable manner. Other species with whom we share the forest ar part if the interrelated connection of all species.

Yet despite what we know now about the richness and riches of the world's forests there are some - large corporations - who with government support and license continue to exploit those resources without paying the real costs.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS for PEOPLE and the International Forest Film Festival aims to raise awareness on the importance of forests, their relationship with people and the planet we share, and consequently, to inspire a sense of personal responsibility/stewardship for a greener, more equitable, sustainable future.