An Exploration of the History of People, Forests, and Forestry

Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 pm U.S. EST, January 23 – April 24

Humans have interacted with forests since time immemorial. By understanding our past engagement and practices, we can contextualize our present relationship to forests in a changing climate and inform future decision making. The spring 2025 Yale Forest Forum speaker series will examine ancient forests and their interactions with people in the pre-industrial period. Guest speakers will survey various forest regions and traditional forest uses from cultural histories across the world. Attendees will gain an understanding of the origins of traditional forest practices worldwide and how those practices help shape people and place.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Forest History Overview: Tania Munz, Forest History Society, and Péter Szabó, Czech Academy of Science
• Forest Peoples and Customary Rights: Marcus Colchester, Forest Peoples Programme
• Terra Ferma and Várzea Forests in the Amazon: Eduardo Neves, University of São Paulo
• Milpa Systems in Mayan Forests: Anabel Ford, Meso American Research Center, UCSB
• Culture and Trees in Mughal India: Karl Appuhn, New York University

The speaker series is co-developed and co-hosted by The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment and the Forest History Society.