Smart Forests Radio

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

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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