Perhaps one of the least represented perspectives we’ve covered on this show is that of the forests that feed and shelter us, provide our medicines, replenish our soil, sustain our wildlife, color our landscapes, and which address the most basic of all human needs, the need to breathe. 

Originally from Chile, Nicolas Salazar Sutil currently resides in the UK where he’s a professor at the University of Leeds. Nicolas founded Forest Guardians in 2019 in response to wildfire emergencies happening around the world. With a focus in communication, education, and advocacy, Forrest Guardians designs and delivers online courses focused on ecological apprenticeships, indigenous forest schooling, and traditional ecological knowledge, and in partnership with Earth Law Centre they consult on the legal rights of forests. That’s right, the trees have rights too, and given that we wouldn’t be able to breathe without them, that’s a very good thing. 

There’s also a time sensitive matter that we would like to bring to your attention. Nicolas’ organization is about to commence with “Guardians of the Forest”, an online course lead by practitioners from 30 different nations who will focus on traditional forest knowledge to understand the spiritual, ecological, cultural, and legal aspects of forest guardianship. The deadline is Monday, May 3rd, 2021. Look here for more information about the Guardians of the Forest course, and about Nicolas’ other work with Forest Guardians.