What steps do we need to take to make forestry and natural resource conservation more equitable? In Tuning into the Forest, we reflect on this topic, exploring stories of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in nature.
Background music by Guillermo Milla Figueroa (1st series) and Israel Toto Berriel (2nd series), Yoro Noukoussi (3rd series).
First Series
Episode 1: Deans of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr Sarah Gergel and Dr Hisham Zerriffi
In this episode, I talked with two professors of the Faculty of Forestry (FoF) who are leading the way in terms of challenging conversations, training, and, ultimately, policies. Dr. Sarah Gergel is a Full Professor and the first Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at the Faculty of Forestry. Her lab studies the impact of human activities on landscape dynamics. Dr. Hisham Zerriffi is an Associate Professor and was recently appointed as the incoming Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion of the Faculty. His lab studies the intersection of technology, energy, and the environment.
Episode 2: Dr Tahia Devisscher, Banting Research and Teaching Fellow at the UBC Faculty of Forestry
In this second episode, I talked with Dr. Tahia Devisscher about Mental Health and #GreenSpaces. Dr. Tahia Devisscher is a Banting Research and Teaching Fellow at the UBC Faculty of Forestry. She is currently studying the extent to which forests and other green spaces in and around cities increase social-ecological resilience and improve the way in which urbanites benefit from and engage with nature. In past work with the Stockholm Environment Institute, Tahia supported and led applied research to improve human well-being and address climate change adaptation through nature-based solutions in more than 20 countries. She has an interdisciplinary background and a PhD in ecosystems science from the University of Oxford.
Episode 3: Elliot Bellis, recent graduate from the Urban Forestry Program at the UBC Faculty of Forestry
In this episode, I talked with Elliot Bellis about studying abroad, forestry stereotypes, and #GenderDiversity. Elliot Bellis is a recent graduate of Urban Forestry at the UBC Faculty of Forestry. During his five years in the Faculty, he participated in the co-op program, volunteered as an orientation day leader, and played saxophone for the #ThunderbirdMarchingBand. Currently, he works as an Arborist and Junior Urban Forester for a local Environmental Consulting Company and in his free time, he loves to go foraging and botanizing. His current obsessions include block printing, mushroom hunting, and adventuring with his cat.
Episode 4: Andrea Vásquez-Fernández (PhDc candidate) and Vanessa Silva Mascorro (MSc alumni) from the UBC Faculty of Forestry
In the last episode of this series, I talked to Andrea Vásquez-Fernández, a Quechua Peruvian PhD candidate, and Vanessa Silva Mascorro, a Mexican MSc alumni, both from the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, about their pathways as Latin female scholars in the north. Andrea Vásquez-Fernández is a Quechua Peruvian PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia. Besides holding a B.Sc. in forest engineering and a specialization on environmental management, quality, and auditing from the National Agrarian University of La Molina (UNALM), she has a M.Sc. from the University of British Columbia. Andrea is a public scholar and part of a multicultural Indigenous research team that conducts collaborative projects. Asheninka and Yine community members invited her to form an alliance to address their concerns and desired futures. Currently, they are working on a project called ‘RESPECT-AMAZONIA.’
Vanessa Silva Mascorro was born in the beautiful country of Mexico. Here, she got her bachelor’s degree in Information Systems. In 2006, she joined the Mexican Ministry of Forests, where she led the National Forests Inventory Database for six years. In 2012, she came to Canada to pursue an MSc in Forestry degree at the UBC Faculty of Forestry and graduated with honours in 2014. Her research focused on the integration of remote sensing data, forest inventories and ancillary datasets for multi-scale assessment of forest disturbances for carbon accounting modelling. After graduating, she entered the parenting world while continuing to work in environmental consulting.
Second Series
Episode 1:’Diverse Representation Matters’ with Dr Devyani Singh
Dr. Devyani Singh is a Post-Doctoral Fellow working on international Energy and Climate policy. Her inter-disciplinary research includes energy access & transitions in the Global South, air quality (GHG emissions accounting), evaluating climate impacts of national policies, natural resource economics, environmental finance, and oil and gas transitions. As a result, she has worked extensively across sectors (industry, academia, government, Indigenous communities, and non-profits) and countries (India, Canada, US). Outside of academia, Devyani has consulted on carbon markets and policy and worked with the First Nations on sustainable forestry.
Episode 2: ‘Kenyan Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Forest/Land Governance’ with Dr. Kendi Borona
Dr. Kendi Borona was born and brought up near a forest in the Kenyan highlands. It was because of the waters flowing from this forest that she did not have to walk for long distances to fetch water – a task expected of girls in her community. This forest and its critical watersheds were and are protected by elders through the application of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, providing water for community needs downstream. She obtained her PhD from the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry. She is a firm believer in the application of Indigenous Knowledge in the furtherance of just conservation regimes and sustainable community livelihoods. Over the course of her career, she has worked towards the integration of natural and cultural heritage into a concrete whole and to locate communities firmly in their landscapes. Her teaching philosophy is anchored on the belief that education should be transformational and that it should help us create a just society for all beings.
Episode 3: ‘Conservation research on the Western Toad, the only indigenous amphibian on Haida Gwaii’ with PhD Candidate, Roseanna Gamlen-Greene’
Roseanna Gamlen-Greene, originally from New Zealand, is a PhD Candidate at UBC, National Geographic Explorer, UBC Public Scholar, and Vanier Canada Scholar. She is currently researching the conservation biology of amphibians in Haida Gwaii, BC, Canada. Her work involves tromping through beautiful bogs, sea kayaking, canoeing and boating to remote locations, experiments and working with the local community to conserve the Western Toad (the only indigenous amphibian on Haida Gwaii). She is researching whether introduced frogs are outcompeting toads, how genetically distinct Haida Gwaii toad populations are compared to mainland toads and why introduced frogs are spreading.
Episode 4: ‘Representation of girls and women in STEM careers with Dr. Paloma Corvalan’
Dr. Paloma Corvalan graduated from UBC with BSc (Hons) in Ecology and Environmental Science and has a PhD in Animal Behaviour from the University of Queensland. She is the Programs Manager at Sea Smart, teaching STEM educational programs that connect children and youth to nature, inspire them to pursue their love for STEM, and empower them to protect our environment. As the current President of the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology, Paloma supports SCWIST’s vision to create an environment where women and girls in Canada can pursue their interests, education, and careers in STEM without barriers. Paloma strives to lead a sustainable lifestyle and, in her spare time, loves camping, mountain biking, and snowboarding.
Third Series
Episode 1: Winy Vasquez and her take on Diverse forestry experience and collaboration with Indigenous communities on food security
Winy Vasquez’s research seeks to explore how the right to food plays out for communities that live within or in close proximity to a protected area. In this episode, we spoke with Winy about how her research will look at issues around rights, access, food sovereignty and nutrition in the Peruvian Amazon.
If you want to know more about her research, you can check out the paper we highlighted in this conversation: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/forest-restoration/130615/
Episode 2: Dr. Jessica Hernández: Environmental justice through Indigenous science and advocacy
Dr. Jessica Hernandez is a transnational Indigenous scholar, scientist, and community advocate based in the Pacific Northwest. She has an interdisciplinary academic background ranging from marine sciences to environmental physics. She advocates for climate, energy, and environmental justice through her scientific and community work and strongly believes that Indigenous sciences can heal our Indigenous lands. Author of Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science (2022).
Episode 3: Dr. Ngaio Hotte: Economics and trust – plus some tips on hiking with your pet
Dr. Hotte is an Economist & outdoor lover. She holds a PhD in trust & collaborative natural resource governance, with extensive experience in teaching, research, facilitation and consulting in the private, non-profit and higher education sectors.
Episode 4: Dr. Danielle Ignace: Supportive networks for racialized minorities in the Faculty and climate justice with Indigenous communities
In today’s episode, we spoke with Dr. Danielle Ignace, who is an Assistant Professor of Indigenous Natural Sciences in the Faculty of Forestry at UBC and a Research Associate at Harvard Forest. Dr Ignace is an ecophysiologist with a passion for science communication. She studies how climate change and landscape disturbances impact ecosystem function and Indigenous communities. Check out her website here: https://www.ignacelab.com/
Fourth Series
Episode 1: Rafael Candido Ribeiro: Experience of a dad in Academia researching about plant genetics
Rafael’s research expands from the morphological and genetic diversity of a Brazilian palm species at risk of extinction to using landscape genomics to identify genes involved in Douglas-fir climate adaptation. His research will help us understand the patterns of adaptation of Douglas-fir across its broad geographic range and in selectively bred populations. He is a parent in Academia.
Episode 2: Ambika Tenneti: People of Colour and access to Nature in urban areas
Ambika is an environmental scientist by training with over 20 years of experience working with diverse communities in India and Canada. Her current research on immigrant engagement in Toronto’s urban forest braids various elements of human-ecology interactions and helps find solutions to benefit both. She is a parent in Academia.
Episode 3: Dr. Ingrid Jarvis: Community engagement and the importance of accessing green spaces for our health
Dr. Ingrid Jarvis’ research interests include urban ecology, ecosystem services, and human health and well-being. We talked about her last paper on access to green spaces by children and the impact on their mental health. Dr. Jarvis was also a Diversity Crew member, a horizontal grassroots organization co-funded by grad students of the Faculty of Forestry (FoF) that promotes EDI and Justice events and partnerships along with increasing discussions and critiques to the Faculty in terms of their support to BIPOC members, parents, and other minorities.
Episode 4: Krystal M. Toney: Access to Academia and Nature as a Black scholar
Krystal research is framed in environmental science at the University of North Texas. Her graduate work focuses on the disparities in access to conservation education and nature amongst Black and low socioeconomic students in Texas. Krystal is also a social media influencer, and through her website and social accounts at ‘Black In Nature’, she shares her knowledge, creativity and love for nature while encouraging other Black/POC to get in contact with nature. She is a parent in Academia.