Forest Policy Research

The future of Earth’s Tree News as an organization is based on developing an online international forest protection group under the current working title of: Forest Policy Research.

The primary goals / values of this project:

1) Inspiration through science, art and direct experience with the living natural world. 2) Creating a road map, multi-media presentations, and an exchange of ideas that inspires a fundamental shift in human consciousness. 3) The more information we have about our world’s forest landscape, the better equipped we are to protect it.

The specific programs that are being developed are:

1) Forest Policy Research Office: Last July Forest Policy Research moved into an Olympia office space via the non-profit fiscal sponsorship of Media Island International. The new office provides a place to coordinate volunteers, as well as record audio and video (see #4)

2) Online searchable data-base: There are now 14,000 unique articles distributed via the newsletter Earth’s Tree News. Working with computer programmers we have developed  a new format as well as the foundaiton for an online unsearchable data-base. The new search engine will be specifically geared towads helping users find information and references about specific forest issues througout the world.

3) Forest protection writers guild: This is being facilitated by an email disscussion group known as “Fundamental Shift” (to subscribe: pnwfundamentalshift-subscribe@lists.riseup.net ) The purpose of this list is to bring together artists, editors, writers from around the region (as well as the world) to create wrtings / web content that not promotes forest activists campaigns and leads to inspirational live performing arts presentations. “Fundamental Shift” will also look into developing ebooks in the form of academic texts suitable for K-12, colleges and universities.

4) Earth Tree News TV and podcasts: Many tree news readers who are interested in knowing more about the world’s forest issues say thay they would prefer watching videos, or listening to audio recordings instead. So this project plans to take the most important tree news items of each week and develop them into one hour professional productions with music, images, and live talk-show style interviews.

5) Article Forwarding Service: If your organization, or research needs require a steady supply of specific news items about trees / forests or related environmental issues we can send them to you as soon as we find them. This project is a natural extension of our daily work and we are well postioned to summarize / forward most kinds of envrionmetnal news articles that you have a specific interest in.

6) Global Online Network: Similar to the online community known as “Indymedia,” Earth’s Tree News will soon be setting up an online forum where activists can organize / personalize all the tree news data from their adopted region or country. Ultimately this online forum will not just be able to rally thousands of voices to speak out for specific forests, but it will also build a world-wide community movement that’s able to get large numbers of people focused and inspired to saving the world’s forests.

7) Forest Policy Research Data Base: This will be an in-depth, highly detailed resource for firsthand reports that will backed up by EArth Tree Nes articels of days gone by. This data-base will also include on-site survey work, satellite imagery, references to all applicable scientific studies, and an oral history from the people who live and work on the land nearest the forest in question.

8) Fundamental Shift Tour: A fundraising oriented performing arts and outdoor education tour throughout the Pacific Northwest and eventually the rest of the world. The intentionis to provide powerful and  professional performing arts productions that inspire people to get involved in local tree and forest issues. These events money raised will then be spent on follow up event that will raise money for more follow-up events. Not only will we teach people how to make a significant shift in how, and what, they consume, we will also get the audience out into nature so they can give-back and interact.