Community engagement to accelerate research and learning about the dieback of western redcedar
Presentation Abstract
Western redcedar is a culturally important tree species in the Pacific Northwest. It has provided many resources and gifts to indigenous ancestors in the region since time immemorial. It is still used widely today but access is limited for many communities. Concern for the dieback of western redcedar has grown since 2015 when the region experienced a notable drought. Western Science research is underway to study the link between the dieback of redcedar with longer and hotter droughts, but more collaboration and convergence with indigenous science is needed to find solutions and ensure this species remains on the landscape for future generations. The Forest Health Watch program (https://foresthealth.org/) is engaging communities to map the health of western redcedar. Together more than 150 community scientists have shared observations of more than 1200 redcedar trees, helping determine the environmental factors associated with the dieback. While this western science approach is aiding our understanding of the situation, there is still great need to explore how the dieback of redcedar can be shared to communicate the effects of climate change in our communities, amplify perspectives and concerns about the effects of climate change, and help build more bridges between western and indigenous science and teachers.
Session Title
Collaboration and Community Science
Conference Track
SSE6: Human-Nature Systems
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-0
Start Date
28-4-2022 10:15 AM
End Date
28-4-2022 11:45 AM
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Western redcedar--Northwest, Pacific; Dieback--Northwest, Pacific; Tree declines--Pacific, Northwest
Geographic Coverage
Northwest, Pacific
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
Video
Community engagement to accelerate research and learning about the dieback of western redcedar
Western redcedar is a culturally important tree species in the Pacific Northwest. It has provided many resources and gifts to indigenous ancestors in the region since time immemorial. It is still used widely today but access is limited for many communities. Concern for the dieback of western redcedar has grown since 2015 when the region experienced a notable drought. Western Science research is underway to study the link between the dieback of redcedar with longer and hotter droughts, but more collaboration and convergence with indigenous science is needed to find solutions and ensure this species remains on the landscape for future generations. The Forest Health Watch program (https://foresthealth.org/) is engaging communities to map the health of western redcedar. Together more than 150 community scientists have shared observations of more than 1200 redcedar trees, helping determine the environmental factors associated with the dieback. While this western science approach is aiding our understanding of the situation, there is still great need to explore how the dieback of redcedar can be shared to communicate the effects of climate change in our communities, amplify perspectives and concerns about the effects of climate change, and help build more bridges between western and indigenous science and teachers.
