ScienceSocial Sciences

Smart Forests Radio

Smart Forests

How are forests becoming digital environments? The Smart Forests research project investigates the social-political impacts of digital technologies that monitor and govern forests. In this podcast series, we speak to scientists, artists, activists, and technologists about their work.

Find out more about the Smart Forests project at https://smartforests.net/ and explore the Smart Forests Atlas at https://atlas.smartforests.net/.

Play

Open in

20 episodes
Avg 25 min
English

Episodes 20

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

#62
June 10 · 24 min
Niall Burnside: Monitoring Scotland's Temperate Rainforests across Sea and Land
In this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we speak with Niall Burnside, Senior Lecturer in Biogeography and Geoinformatics at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), about marine ecosystems and their connections to Scotland's Atlantic temperate rainforests. The conversation explores how ecological research is increasingly organised around interconnected ‘source-to-sea’ systems rather than fixed geographical boundaries. Niall walks us through the technologies SAMS deploys, such as drones, LiDAR, robotics, and AI, and how they help understand marine and forest systems as a whole. He also reflects on the educational networks developed through SAMS's Scientific Robotics Academy, including STEM outreach, hands-on training, and knowledge exchange with woodland communities, and their role in widening access to digital environmental technologies. Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Phoebe Hamilton Jones Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: SAMS Robotics Academy
#61
June 3 · 23 min
Gordon Gray Stephens: Visualising and Saving Scotland’s Rainforest
In this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we speak with Gordon Gray Stephens, Saving Scotland’s Rainforest advisor and director of the Native Woods Co-op, about the growing movement for restoring temperate rainforests on the west coast of Scotland. Gordon reflects on how the Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest coalesced around a single shared term, “rainforest,” and why that shift in language has made a material difference in conversations with policymakers, funders, landowners, and communities. He discusses the role of digital technologies in this restoration work, from mapping the spread of invasive rhododendron across the landscape to using thermal drones for deer counting. He also makes a case for keeping these tools in the hands of people working locally, rather than allowing them to merely feed decision-making processes from afar. Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Phoebe Hamilton Jones Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: The Woodland Trust
#59
May 27 · 20 min
Rachel French: Forests as Community Spaces
In this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we speak with Rachel French, former biodiversity officer at the Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT), about the regeneration of the Ardura Community Forest on the Isle of Mull and the vital role forests play as community spaces. Rachel discusses connecting people with woodlands through school visits, volunteer programmes, and wildlife-themed events, alongside the restoration of ancient Atlantic oak woodland and peatland. She also describes the technologies used in the forest—from QR codes monitoring water quality during Sitka spruce harvesting to drone surveys, camera trapping, and fixed-point photography—before reflecting on how harvesting Sitka spruce and emerging opportunities such as biodiversity credits can support local livelihoods and sustain community forests. Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Phoebe Hamilton Jones Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT)
#58
May 20 · 24 min
Gethin Davies: Restoring the Celtic Rainforest with Community and Technology
In this episode of Smart Forest Radio, we are in conversation with Gethin Davies, senior project manager at Celtic Rainforest Wales, about efforts to restore temperate rainforests across four Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Wales. Gethin discusses how the initiative is using technologies, such as drones, LiDAR, electric collars, and the INNS (Invasive Non-Native Species) Mapper app, to monitor and manage these habitats, while noting their limitations alongside the continued importance of people on the ground. He explains two complementary monitoring strands: a socioeconomic assessment and an ecosystem benefits survey. The conversation further touches on community engagement activities and the role of Welsh folklore and language in connecting people to the land. Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Phoebe Hamilton Jones Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: Celtic Rainforests Wales
#57
April 29 · 12 min
Simón Crisóstomo Loncopán: Gobernanza territorial mapuche y restauración forestal
En este episodio de Smart Forests Radio, hablamos con Simón Crisóstomo Loncopán, lonko («jefe» en mapudungun) y presidente de la Comunidad Mapuche para la Gobernanza Territorial de Curarrehue, en la región de la Araucanía, Wallmapu, Chile. Simón reflexiona sobre cómo los procesos de liderazgo y gobernanza han surgido desde el interior del territorio, moldeados por la educación política mapuche, los movimientos sociales y las redes comunitarias que se extienden por toda América Latina. Simón describe las metodologías y tecnologías que respaldan la defensa territorial y la gestión forestal, incluidos los planes de gestión indígenas para la prevención de incendios y la restauración de ecosistemas. La conversación destaca la cartografía como herramienta para la protección y las reivindicaciones territoriales, que cobra fuerza cuando diversas perspectivas trabajan juntas, facilitando el diálogo con las comunidades mapuches y el Estado. También explora cómo los drones y las imágenes tridimensionales ayudan a ir más allá de una visión impuesta, ofreciendo nuevas formas de ver y conectar con el territorio. Entrevistadora: Pablo González Rivas y Paula Tiara Torres Productor: Harry Murdoch Imagen: Jennifer Gabrys (2023)
#56
April 22 · 27 min
Max Bodmer: Bringing Carbon and Biodiversity Together
In this episode of Smart Forest Radio, we speak with Dr Max Bodmer, former Head of Nature-Based Consultancy at rePLANET. Max is now based at spin-off, Renew Earth, an independent biodiversity Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and digital platform company. In this podcast, Max explains how integrative approaches to carbon and biodiversity credits can channel private capital into nature restoration and how high integrity biodiversity measurement is achieved through multi-metric methodology, field ecology, and selective use of digital technologies. He also emphasises the importance of early-stage community engagement and cross-network collaboration in preserving restoration project integrity. Interviewer: Jennifer Gabrys and Phoebe Hamilton Jones Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: rePLANET
#55
April 15 · 14 min
Felipe Ortega: Planificación intercultural con comunidades y ecosistemas
En este episodio de Smart Forests Radio, hablamos con Felipe Ortega, biólogo y guardaparque del Parque Nacional Villarrica, en la región de la Araucanía (Chile), sobre el compromiso intercultural con las comunidades y los ecosistemas. Felipe explica cómo la gobernanza participativa, la educación ambiental y el monitoreo de los ecosistemas mediante cámaras trampa y drones se combinan para hacer frente a las amenazas que se ciernen sobre las prioridades culturales y ecológicas de la zona. Señala que la gestión y la protección del territorio se basan en las prácticas tradicionales y en la participación de la comunidad. El debate pone de relieve cómo el parque se ha convertido en un centro social y geográfico, facilitando la colaboración entre las comunidades y organizaciones, como la Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF), para responder a eventos ambientales como los incendios forestales. Entrevistadora: Jennifer Gabrys, Pablo González Rivas y Paula Tiara Torres Productor: Harry Murdoch Imagen: Jennifer Gabrys (2023)
#54
April 8 · 22 min
Sylvain Vaquer: Biodiversity Monitoring Powered by People and AI
In this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we speak with Sylvain Vaquer, founder of Mozaic Earth, a biodiversity and nature-intelligence startup. Sylvain outlines Mozaic Earth’s tools for making biodiversity monitoring more scalable and accessible, including a mobile app that supports ground-level data collection by local communities and an AI-powered platform that enables ecologists to conduct remote ecological assessments. He reflects on collaborations across the biodiversity space, ranging from global nature tech collectives and regional restoration groups to regulators. Sylvain hopes to help bridge conversations between these stakeholders and establish a viable level of biodiversity insight that can create ecological gains while supporting organisations to maintain market competitiveness. Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Phoebe Hamilton Jones Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: Mozaic Earth
#53
April 1 · 23 min
Andrés Fuentes Ramírez and Paola Arroyo Vargas: Ecología de fuego y recuperación tras incendios
En este episodio de Smart Forests Radio, hablamos con Andrés Fuentes Ramírez, biólogo y doctor en Ecología y Biología Evolutiva, y con Paola Arroyo Vargas, ingeniera en Recursos Naturales Renovables y doctora en Ecología del Fuego, ambos miembros del Laboratorio de Ecosistemas y Bosques de la Universidad de La Frontera, en Temuco, Chile. Andrés y Paola exploran una perspectiva ecológica sobre cómo responden los bosques a incendios cada vez más severos, basándose en una década de seguimiento en la Reserva China Muerta. También reflexionan sobre tecnologías como las imágenes satelitales y los drones multiespectrales, que impulsan la investigación científica. Animan a los oyentes—ya sean investigadores, responsables políticos o ciudadanos preocupados—a participar en esta investigación y a apoyar los esfuerzos para traducir los hallazgos científicos en estrategias eficaces de gestión del territorio y de prevención de incendios. Entrevistadora: Maya Errázuriz y Jennifer Gabrys Productor: Harry Murdoch Imagen: Jennifer Gabrys (2024)
#52
March 25 · 27 min
Murtaza Taj: Building Technology and Trust for Forest Fire Prevention
In this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we speak with Murtaza Taj, Associate Professor and Director of the Computer Vision Lab, as well as former Director of Technology for People Initiative at Lahore University of Management Sciences, about his work developing early forest fire detection systems in Pakistan. Murtaza explains why he prioritized low-cost, energy-efficient, and easy-to-deploy technologies, which led his team to build an indigenized suite of sensing, simulation, and communication tools tailored to local contexts rather than relying on imported models. He describes running a successful pilot in northern Pakistan, where his team combined technology deployment with government and community engagement. He also details collaborating with the Forest Department, forest guards, local communities, NGOs, and network providers, and considers how multiple institutions and communities must adapt for a more holistic approach to fire prevention and response. Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Phoebe Hamilton Jones Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: Centre for Water Informatics & Technology, Lahore University of Management Sciences
#49
Nov 13, 2024 · 37 min
Mohammad Meer Hamza: Van Gujjars and Mapping for Forest Rights
In this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we are in conversation with Mohammad Meer Hamza about the Van Gujjars, an indigenous pastoralist community in South Asia. We explore the community's rich history, the challenges they have endured due to colonial conservation practices, and how modern technologies, including digital tools, are reshaping forest governance and mapping practices. Interviewer: Trishant Simlai Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: Trishant Simlai (2024)
#51
Oct 30, 2024 · 32 min
Jorge Felez-Bernal: La piro-geografía y la geomática como medios para vincularse con comunidades afectadas por incendios forestales
En este episodio de Smart Forests Radio, hablamos con Jorge Felez-Bernal. Jorge es Geógrafo, con postgrado en Ingeniería del Medio Ambiente y Máster en Tecnologías de la Información Geográfica para la Ordenación del Territorio. Desde 2018, está cursando un programa de doctorado en Ordenación del Territorio y Medio Ambiente, en la Universidad de Zaragoza, España. El 2009 llegó a vivir a Concepción, Chile desde su natal España. Se ha desempeñado profesionalmente en el Centro y Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales de la Universidad de Concepción. Institución donde además es docente y dirige el Diplomado en Tecnologías de Información Geográfica para la Ordenación del Territorio. En la entrevista, Jorge nos cuenta que ha podido desarrollar proyectos de vinculación con el medio y de asistencia técnica, principalmente para diferentes entidades del Estado chileno, en donde ha podido constatar la realidad nacional de las problemáticas socio-ambientales relacionadas al ordenamiento territorial. Incluyendo un catastro de demandas de tierras indígenas en las provincias de Arauco, Malleco, Cautín y Valdivia. Lo cual le permitió comprender en mayor profundidad las implicancias y consecuencias del modelo forestal chileno, sobre todo aquellas vinculadas a los incendios y al fuego como instrumento de despojo territorial. Entrevistadora: Pablo González Rivas, Paula Tiara Torres y Jennifer Gabrys Productor: Harry Murdoch Imagen: Jorge Felez-Bernal (2024)
#50
Oct 16, 2024 · 28 min
Claudia Arellano: El futuro de la gestión de riesgo de desastres en Chile
En este episodio de Smart Forests Radio, hablamos con Claudia Arellano, geógrafa y especialista en Estudios y Riesgos de Desastres. Actualmente es consultora de la Dirección de Gestión de Riesgo de Desastres de la Municipalidad de Pucón, Región de La Araucanía, Chile. Claudia cuenta con más de 11 años de experiencia en el estudio de riesgos de desastres y planificación territorial, abarcando temáticas como planificación urbana, vivienda, educación ambiental y sustentabilidad. En esta entrevista, hablamos de la importancia del conocimiento del riesgo para la prevención de incendios forestales, de las metodologías aplicadas en la gestión del riesgo de desastres en Chile, la relevancia de la vinculación del sector público con fundaciones y ONGs para la difusión de información y el trabajo con comunidades, y los próximos desafíos entorno a la planificación territorial y la nueva Ley de Incendios y la Ley Marco de Cambio Climático. Entrevistadora: Pablo González Rivas, Paula Tiara Torres and Jennifer Gabrys Productor: Harry Murdoch Imagen: Trabajo de campo de Smart Forests (2024)
#48
Oct 2, 2024 · 29 min
BurnBot: Mitigating Wildfire Risks through Prescribed Burns
In this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we speak with Dr Waleed “Lee” Haddad, cofounder of BurnBot. BurnBot is a semi-automated mobile technology for facilitating prescribed burns. Through remote control technology, a burn chamber, and other components, the device enables prescribed burning and vegetation thinning to mitigate destructive wildfires, while ensuring minimal smoke production. Lee discusses BurnBot’s role within the emerging FireTech landscape and the infrastructures, practices, and policies related to wildfire risk reduction. He also emphasises the importance of collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, other private initiatives, and Indigenous communities to address the urgent wildfire crisis in California and beyond. Interviewer: Jennifer Gabrys Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: BurnBot
#47
Sep 18, 2024 · 34 min
Jorge Saavedra: Monitoreando y combatiendo incendios forestales desde la teledetección
En este episodio de Smart Forests Radio, hablamos con Jorge Saavedra. Jorge es Ingeniero Forestal, Diplomado en Geomática y Tecnología Satelital, Magíster en Teledetección y Jefe del Departamento de Desarrollo e Investigación en Incendios Forestales en la Corporación Nacional Forestal de Chile (CONAF). Jorge cuenta con más de 15 años ligado al Manejo del Fuego, se especializa en áreas como el análisis y planificación, uso de geotecnologías, formación, investigación y desarrollo, evaluación y análisis de riesgo, cuantificación del daño evitado en incendios forestales, abarcando cargos desde brigadista hasta técnico en aviones de detección. También, es profesor adjunto en cursos de pre y postgrado en la Universidad Mayor de Chile. En esta entrevista nos cuenta sobre el rol del Departamento de Desarrollo e Investigación de CONAF, que ha sido analizar de manera transversal a toda la institución para hacer más eficiente el trabajo y entender el por qué del comportamiento del fuego en el territorio chileno. Para esto, han generado diversas herramientas que permiten el monitoreo y prevención a incendios forestales, como el Sistema de Pronóstico, el Mapa de Riesgo Nacional y el Botón Rojo. Puede encontrar más sobre el trabajo de Jorge en https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jorge-Saavedra-15. Entrevistadora: Pablo González Rivas, Paula Tiara Torres and Jennifer Gabrys Productor: Harry Murdoch Imagen: Jorge Saavedra
#46
Sep 4, 2024 · 32 min
Shefali Lakhina: Innovating FireTech with Frontline Communities
In this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we talk with Dr Shefali Juneja Lakhina about socially led innovations in fire technology and policy. Shefali is the co-founder of Wonder Labs, a climate justice-focused social enterprise based in California. Since 2021, as part of Wonder Labs’ flagship initiative—the Reimagining 2025: Living with Fire Design Challenge—Shefali has mentored student teams in conducting convergence research with community partners working to reduce catastrophic wildfire impacts in caring, equitable, and just ways. In the interview, Shefali shares insights from Wonder Labs’ State of FireTech Report, emphasising the importance of focusing on “fires that matter” and shifting away from early detection and suppression towards mitigation. She discusses how technology can help different communities prepare to live and work with fire in their unique contexts, providing examples such as BurnBot, a fuel treatment system for prescribed burns, and FireUp, a fire forestry workforce platform. Interviewer: Jennifer Gabrys Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: FireUp
#45
Jul 31, 2024 · 18 min
Frank Vorhies: Integrating Conservation and Economic Development
In this Smart Forests Radio episode, we speak with Dr Frank Vorhies. Frank is the director of African Wildlife Economy Institute at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and the founding director of Earthmind, a conversation network founded in Switzerland and now based in the UK. He explores the economic aspects of conservation initatives, focusing on how different views of conservation and biodiversity influence contributing activities and quantification methods. Advocating for conservation as sustainable use of natural resources, as opposed to strict protection, Frank discusses integrating conservation with industrial and urban development and emphasises the need to measure use-related indicators alongside protection-related ones. He delves into how the concept of Verified Conservation Areas (VCA) for biodiveristy restoration came about, making an area unit measurable, tradable, and investable. He also highlights how shifting from a carbon-focused approach to an area-based approach, like VCA, combined with a digital platform, can facilitate sustainable practices and enable transparent information sharing among various actors, including gas factories. Interviewer: Michelle Westerlaken Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: Frank Vorhies, Earthmind
#44
Jul 17, 2024 · 18 min
Arthur Eijs: Verified Conservation Areas and the Nature Commitment Platform
In this Smart Forests Radio episode, we invite Arthur Eijs, a policy advisor on Natural Resources at the Ministry for Infrastructure & Water Management in the Netherlands. Formerly, he oversaw strategy, pilot projects, and economic incentives on biodiversity at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, and served as a member of the Dutch CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) delegation. During the interview, conducted in June 2023, Arthur delves into a biodiversity project he initiated about Verified Conservation Areas, or the VCA platform. This digital infrastructure aimed to transparently verify biodiversity restoration and conservation efforts, enabling both larger companies and local grassroots initiatives to declare their contributions. Arthur elaborates on his ideas behind this initiative and the challenges encountered in securing funding. He also shares fascinating insights into the background of European funding strategies for biodiversity and the issues arising from the multitude of emerging digital platforms and stakeholders. Although the VCA platform is currently discontinued, information about the projects involved can be found via the website of the Convention on Biological Diversity on their new Nature Commitments Platform. Interviewer: Michelle Westerlaken Producer: Harry Murdoch Language note: This interview takes place in Dutch. Image: Nature Commitments, https://naturecommitments.org/
#43
Jul 3, 2024 · 33 min
Awana Digital: Weaving Community, Technology and Environment
In this Smart Forests Radio episode, we speak with Jen Castro, co-director of Awana Digital (formerly Digital Democracy), about Mapeo, an open-source, offline-first toolset for forest monitoring and territory mapping. Jen discusses how Mapeo supports participatory data collection and sharing, reinforcing community sovereignty over their land and data. She also describes Mapeo’s transformative role in combating illegal mining, deforestation, and other threats to forests by facilitating evidence gathering, campaign launches, and policy changes. As Mapeo expands into a broader network of communities, tools, and data, Jen shares the vision for it to become self-sustaining and co-developed through peer learning. Towards the end of the episode, Jen explains how the organisation’s name change to Awana Digital (Awana means ‘to weave’ in Quechua) reflects its role of co-designing tools with frontline communities to protect human and environmental rights. Interviewer: Jennifer Gabrys Producer: Harry Murdoch Image: Mapeo, https://docs.mapeo.app/
#41
Jun 19, 2024 · 18 min
Michiel van Bakel: Visual Artist in Forest Landscapes
In this episode of Smart Forests Radio, we venture into the forest on the Peelrandbreuk in Boekel, the Netherlands. Recorded during a forest walk on a warm summer day in June 2023, the episode features visual artist Michiel van Bakel and ecovillage founder Ad Vlems. The Peelrandbreuk, a geological fault line, is clearly visible in the landscape due to variations in elevation. During our walk, we had intriguing conversations around the local area and van Bakel’s interactive artworks. Michiel van Bakel studied astronomy, photography, psychology, and visual arts. He expresses himself through video, sculptures, and installations, conveying a fascination with the tension between humans and technology, as well as the perception of time within our disrupted ecosystems. Working with tools such as cameras, scanners, and image processing algorithms, he aims to extend his senses and visualises things that were previously unseen. For more on his work, see: https://www.michielvanbakel.nl/. Interviewer: Michelle Westerlaken Producer: Harry Murdoch Language note: This interview takes place in Dutch. Image: Michiel van Bakel

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes