Smart Forests Radio

Andrea Leiter: Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and Self-Governing Nature

In this radio episode, we speak to Dr Andrea Leiter, Assistant Professor at the Amsterdam Center for International Law and Director of Research at the nonprofit Sovereign Nature Initiative. Andrea discusses how emerging cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies can offer different ways of understanding, valuing, and governing nature, along with some of the dangers of the fast-paced, growing world of green financing.
Interviewers: Michelle Westerlaken and Danilo Urzedo
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas for further discussion of blockchain and cryptocurrencies in digital forest technologies.
Image source: https://sovereignnature.com/

Sarab Sethi: Soundscape Monitoring in Malaysian Borneo

In this radio episode, we speak to Dr Sarab Sethi, Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Cambridge Conservation Initiative at the University of Cambridge. Sarab discusses building hardware for acoustic soundscape monitoring in the SAFE project in Malaysian Borneo, and the challenges of interdisciplinary work between ecology and computer science.
Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys, Max Ritts, and Trishant Simlai
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Note: This radio episode includes sounds from the SAFE Acoustics Project. For more information (and sounds), visit their website at: http://acoustics.safeproject.net/
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas for more information about the SAFE project, and for other projects using acoustics to monitor biodiversity.
Image source: http://acoustics.safeproject.net/06:00/4/32847.

Shashank Srinivasan: Conservation Technologies in India

In this episode, we speak to Shashank Srinivasan, founder of Technology for Wildlife Foundation based in Goa, India. Shashank discusses tools and technologies including drones, satellites, and geospatial mapping to amplify conservation work, while also remaining critical of the potential negative social and environmental impacts of technology.
Interviewer: Trishant Simlai
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas to find out more about Technology for Wildlife Foundation.
For further perspectives on topics discussed in this episode, read Trishant Simlai's story on Digital Technologies and Conservation Surveillance. 
Image source: https://www.techforwildlife.com/spatial-intelligence

Alex Rogers: Acoustic Devices for Biodiversity Monitoring

In this episode, we speak to Alex Rogers, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. We discuss how Alex's research team developed the acoustic recording device AudioMoth, how low-cost technologies can democratise biodiversity monitoring, and how sensing technologies can lead to certain species and environments being monitored more than others.
Interviewers: Max Ritts and Michelle Westerlaken
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas to find out more about AudioMoth, and check out other Smart Forests Radio episodes on acoustic monitoring.
Image source: https://www.openacousticdevices.info/

Sophie Nitoslawski: Smart Urban Forestry in Canada

In this radio episode, we speak to Sophie Nitoslawski, PhD candidate in urban forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Sophie talks about the ecological and social importance of urban forests, public and private sector collaborations, and the need to think across multiple scales when designing and implementing smart forest technologies.
Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Max Ritts
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Find out more about Sophie's work on the Smart Forests Atlas.
Image source: Sophie Nitoslawski, https://urbandatalab.io/blog/using-existing-data-to-tackle-big-urban-forest-questions-introducing-sophie/

Lindsey Rustad: Real-Time Monitoring in the Northeastern US

In this radio episode, we speak to Dr Lindsey Rustad, Director of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Northeast Climate Hub and Team Leader for the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire. Lindsey discusses setting up the USDA Smart Forests network, different types of sensors used for real-time environmental monitoring, and the role of forest ecosystems in addressing climate change.
Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Michelle Westerlaken
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas to find out more about the USDA Smart Forests network.
Image source: WaterViz, https://waterviz.org/

Ed Cooper: Nature-Based Solutions in West Berkshire, UK

In this episode, we speak to Ed Cooper, founder of BioCap. Ed discusses developing a spatial plan and regional network to support nature-based solutions in West Berkshire, including local carbon offsetting schemes and habitat restoration, and the need for more granular data in digital mapping.
Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Danilo Urzedo
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas to find out more about Biocap.
Image source: BioCap, https://www.biocap.org.uk

Carlos Souza: Remote Sensing in the Amazon

In this episode, we speak to Dr Carlos Souza, a researcher at Imazon, the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment. Carlos discusses developing remote sensing tools to map and monitor but also predict deforestation and environmental change. He also reflects on collaborating with big tech companies, and asymmetry of access to information and digital technologies in the Amazon.
Interviewers: Danilo Urzedo, Jennifer Gabrys, and Michelle Westerlaken
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Head to the Smart Forests Atlas to learn more about projects Carlos is involved in: MapBiomas and PrevisIA.
Image source: PrevisIA, https://previsia.org/

Nadina Galle: Internet of Nature

In this episode, we talk to Dr Nadina Galle, ecological engineer and founder of the Internet of Nature concept and podcast. Nadina describes ways that technology can facilitate interactions between humans and nature in urban environments, from monitoring soil and tree health, to quantifying and incentivising public health impacts of spending time outside, to communicating about and across ecosystems.
Interviewers: Michelle Westerlaken and Jennifer Gabrys
Producer: Harry Murdoch
Find out more about the Internet of Nature on the Smart Forests Atlas, and read Nadina's post about her recent work with soil sensors and a tweeting tree, Bowie the Birch.
Image source: Nadina Galle, https://www.nadinagalle.com/ion.

Marcello and Eduardo Guimarães: Reforestation Machines in Brazil

In this radio episode, we talk to Marcello and Eduardo Guimarães, founders of tree planting companies Mahogany Roraima and iPlantForest and designers of the Forest Bot, and Nicolas Guimarães, who is involved with developing the technologies of the machines. We discuss techniques for automating precision reforestation, relationships between private and socio-environmental projects, and using NFTs for financing and tracing reforestation.
Interviewers: Danilo Urzedo and Jennifer Gabrys
Producer: Pedro Augusto
Language note: This interview takes place in Portuguese and English.
Read more about Mahogany Roraima, iPlantForest, and other digital tree-planting operations on the Smart Forests Atlas.
Image source: Mahogany Roraima, https://mahoganyroraima.com.br/real-carbon-capture-machine/