From Root to Branch: Rethinking Our Relationship with Trees

We are delighted to invite you to the Irish Tree Explorers Network (ITEN) free end-of-project symposium which will be held on March 19th.

The theme of the symposium is: ‘From Root to Branch: Rethinking Our Relationship with Trees’. It is widely recognised that trees are critical for the survival and development of humanity, not only through their role in the provision of clean air, food, shelter, medicine, wellbeing and climate resilience, but also in the way they influence cultural heritage and identity. Despite these many benefits, tree extinction is accelerating at an alarming rate, with far-reaching consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Whilst there are many underlying reasons for this current crisis, it has been identified that plant blindness, or what we term Human Imperception of Plants (HIP) – the inability to notice, recognize, or appreciate plants in everyday life – contributes significantly to inadequate plant conservation.

This symposium will feature papers from key speakers who will help us to rethink our relationship with trees from multiple perspectives. Drawing on insights from both STEM and culture, the symposium aims to consider ways in which we can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of trees so that we may better protect them. The symposium is open to a wide variety of approaches and will be of interest across disciplines and sectors. Speakers include: Darach Lupton (National Botanic Gardens of Ireland), Niall Farrelly (Teagasc), Susannah Chapman (UCC), Finola O’Kane (UCD), Sophia Meeres (UCD), Ray Ó Foghlú (HomeTree), Niamh Guiry (UCC), Mary Dillon (Burrenbeo), Rosari Kingston (UCC) and Sara Hourigan (Coillte).

Location: Fota Wildlife Park Carrigtwohill T45 CD93 Cork Ireland