Make a ForestKick-offApril 23 2011An impression

Make a ForestThe launch of Make a Forest was organized at the beginning of spring on March 23 2011. Taking place in the Schieblock in Rotterdam, the theme was highlighted from the scientific, visual arts, design and architectural perspective.

Cultural entrepreneurs Anne van der Zwaag and Joanna van der Zanden launched the project ‘Make a Forest’. This initiative aims to raise awareness on environmentally sustainable forest management by creating a link between nature and culture.

Imagine a cultural forest as diverse as a real forest, what will it look like? Cultural organizations and educational institutions around the world are invited alongside local artists, architects and designers to help create this virtual forest. It will take shape in 2011, the year declared by the United Nations as the Year of Forests.

The platform makeaforest.org will become the meeting place of all activities. This is where the development of the unique forest can be followed, from Nairobi to Seoul, Amsterdam to Santa Cruz de la Sierra and all other partaking cities.

Speaker 1: Wageningen UniversityProf. Frits Mohren is the Professor of Forest Ecology and Forest Management at Wageningen University. For Make a Forest he gave a highly informative presentation on forests, the state of forests around the world today, forest management and the need for preservation.  

cover some 30 % of the land area (3,5 Bha)

contain 80 % of terrestrial biodiversity

300 million people live in the forest

1,6 billion people directly depend on them

Contain 1000 Gt carbon (eq to atmosphere

Forests in the World

150 mil. ha, very divers and fragmented

Mostly plantations, slow increase in area High demands from society

Cradle of sustainable forestry

Diverse and high quality forests

European forests

Exploitation and timber mining ( - 1900): Deforestation along sea trade routes Early silviculture

Early forestry (1850 – 1950’s): Plantation silviculture Exploitation linked to timber trade Europe: sustainable forest management

Global exploitative phase (1950’s – 1990’s): Strong increase in deforestation Globalisation and environmental awareness, close-to-nature forestry

Sustainable use, conservation and environmental services (1990-) Community forestry, livelihoods, forests as life support systems Certification systems, multiple-use, nature conservation Payment for environmental services: use it or lose it?

Forest ManagementForest Management

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Joanna van der Zanden and Frits Mohrenduring the Make a Forest kick-off

Speaker 2: NatuurmonumentenRoel Posthoorn from Natuurmonumenten in The Netherlands gave an introduction to forests in The Netherlands today. Natuurmonumenten aims to protect much of The Netherlands’ natural landscape, including large parts of forest.

Enjoying our forests Drs. ing. R. Posthoorn Natuurmonumenten

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Forests in the Netherlands

• 340.000 ha, 10 % of land surface

• Most forests: < 100 years old

• 60% coniferous / 40% broad leaved

• 75% integrated management / 25% no harvest

• About 2/3 of Dutch natural habitat

• Ownership

– 60 % public bodies (national forestry service,

municipalities

– 40% private ownership

Forests in the Netherlands

• 340.000 ha, 10 % of land surface

• Most forests: < 100 years old

• 60% coniferous / 40% broad leaved

• 75% integrated management / 25% no harvest

• About 2/3 of Dutch natural habitat

• Ownership

– 60 % public bodies (national forestry service, municipalities

– 40% private ownership

• 20 tree species,

• 400 plant species,

• 100 animal species

Wood / biomass

• Renewable resource

• Economic asset

• 2.2 million m3 annual growth in NL

• 1.4 million m3 annual harvest, 10% of yearly use in

NL

Speaker 2: Monobanda / BohmNiki Smit is a game designer from the game company Monobanda. He sat down for an interview on a game they are developing, called Bohm, which allows the player to participate and enjoy in the slow growth of a virtual tree.

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Bohm Game

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Speaker 4: Stang Gubbels / BoomstangStang Gubbels is an illustrator and graphic designer who released a magazine called Boomstang on wood, trees and forests. He was kind enough to sit down for an interview about the inspiration behind his magazine and the production process.  

Joanna van der Zanden interviews Stang Gubbels about the magazine Boomstang

Speaker 5: DSADuzan Doepel of Doepel Strijkers Architects is an architect interested in sustainability. His presentation gave an insight into various projects and ideas that his architectural agency developed on urban sustainability.

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Speaker 6: Christien Meindertsma / Tree TrackChristien Meindertsma revealed her art work called Tree Track at the end of the opening. Tree Track is a wooden train track that is made of a complete beech tree from the Flevopolder in The Netherlands. The project of Christien Meindertsma seeks to communicate the message that there are ample opportunities for producing natural resources in a sustainable and professional manner for our own use.