Call of the Forest

Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees Is a beautiful feature length film featuring the work of Diana Beresford-Kroeger.  She is a “world recognized author, medical biochemist and botanist” who was born in Ireland and was tutored in the Celtic knowledge of trees and plants by her family.  Beresford-Kroeger blends these two knowledge systems throughout the film, as she visits forests around the world and those who are planting and protecting them.

From Japan, where we view the tiniest urban forest in the midst of Tokyo, to Japanese forest bathing which has been practiced for a thousand years, she takes us to her farm in Ontario where she has been creating a living library of tree genetics for over forty years.  With her, we visit Vancouver Island and California, home to the mighty Redwoods as well as Pimachiowin Aki an  PIC area in Manitoba protected by Indigenous people who are working to have the area protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. 

Pimachiowin Aki from UNESCO Biosphere website

We visit Ireland where most of the trees were cut down by the British to conquer the people of that land.  It was said that the Irish would not be conquered until there were no leaves left as their understanding of life was based on the wisdom and knowledge of the forest.  For this reason, Beresford-Kroeger says that an intact forest is a mighty act of peace.

Beresford-Kroeger explains the chemistry of the medicinal aerosols that trees emit in the forest as well as the links between the health of the forest and the health of the oceans.  If the trees disappear, then so will the fish.  Japan is now planting “fishermen’s forests” after deforestation led to the disappearance of ocean fish.  “The chain is invisible until the chain is broken,” she says. 

Beresford-Kroeger also takes us to the great Boreal Forest which grows around the north pole and which represents 30% of the world’s forest.  Expansion of the Alberta tar sands threatens this forest.  All we need to do is protect the Boreal Forest, she states.

Narrated by Gordon Pinsent, the film introduces us to passionate forest protectors around the globe as well as how trees can mitigate the effects of climate change.  And the viewer meets ancient and enormous trees as well as young ones.  By the end of the film, Beresford-Kroeger sums it up simply.  Planting trees can change the climate and her calculations reveal that if every person on earth planted one tree a year for six years, that would make a difference.  Since we can’t all plant trees, some of us will have to plant trees for those who can’t and some of us can fund people who are planting trees.  

And beyond this, she wants people to develop a different relationship to nature.  She is not the only voice saying this at this time in history.  But she is adding a rich, intelligent and passionate voice to the growing choir.

Does this sound too simple?  Well judge for yourself.  You can check out the trailer here: 

Or watch the film in its entirety here: 

You can view her plan here.  As well as committing to planting one native tree per year for the next six years, she also suggests the following:

• Encourage your friends and neighbours to plant native trees
• Protect the trees in your neighbourhood
• Protect the native forests in your community by getting involved and writing letters to your government representatives 
• Help keep the Boreal Forest intact

So watch the film and decide what you will do.  I guarantee that she will inspire you.