Life
in the Treetops – Adventures of an Arbornaut
Meg
Lowman climbs trees for a living. Over the past three decades, “CanopyMeg”(a
nickname bestowed by middle school kids who email her), has earned an
international reputation as one of the world’s first arbornauts, pioneering the
field of forest canopy science. National Geographic dubbed her “the Real Life
Lorax” and the Wall Street Journal labeled her as “the Einstein of the
treetops.” She has devised innovative methods – including walkways,
construction cranes and hot air balloons - to explore this “eighth continent,”
home to about half of life on earth.
Equipped
with degrees in biology, ecology, executive management, and a Ph.D. in botany,
Lowman transformed her childhood passion of trees and building tree forts into
mapping canopy biodiversity worldwide and spearheading the construction of
North America’s first canopy walkway. Over the years, she has used her treetop
exploration to influence government policy and encourage environmental
stewardship. Among her many outreach initiatives are large-scale,
distance-learning programs, newspaper columns, forest conservation in Africa
and the Amazon, science books for public audiences, and nature camps for
disadvantaged youth. She has authored over 125 scientific publications and 7
books, of which “Life in the Treetops” earned a cover review by the NY Times
Sunday Book Review.
“CanopyMeg”
is the Chief of Science and Sustainability for the California Academy of
Sciences, (where she has her eye on climbing a few redwoods in the near future!)
She will speak about her discoveries of
biodiversity in forest canopies, sharing her first climb in Australian rain
forests in 1979 with a home-made slingshot and harness, that provides a
beginning for her subsequent chronology of canopy discoveries using different
tools. She will take the audience on a global tour to some of the forest canopy
hotspots where she conducts long-term research and education programs. Her most
recent efforts, to conserve the last 5% of forests in northern Ethiopia,
illustrate the essential services that trees provide for human health.
She will also provide an update on the state
of global forests, and share some exciting solutions to global forest
management.