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Alan Watson Featherstone

ECOLOGIST, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER AND INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER
FOUNDER OF THE AWARD-WINNING CHARITY TREES FOR LIFE

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Tropical rainforests: the womb of life

Tropical rainforests: the womb of life

Tropical rainforests are the richest of all terrestrial ecosystems, and occur in a band on either side of the equator in three main parts of the world – the Neotropics (Central and South America), equatorial Africa, and Southeast Asia, including New Guinea and a small area in Northeast Australia. Teeming with life, they play a vital role in the world’s weather systems and generate much of their own rainfall, through rapid transpiration of the water that falls on them.

For over 30 years I’ve been visiting and photographing the rainforests on every continent and have developed a good understanding of their ecology and the remarkable relationships between many of their species. This presentation provides a visually stunning and highly accessible introduction to these remarkable forests, and all the life that they support.

The talk focuses on many of the key elements of the rainforests, including obvious features such as the huge buttresses on some of the trees, the role and function of lianas and the remarkable lifestyle of strangler figs. It highlights the differences between the rainforests in the three main regions where they grow and the changes that occur in them at higher elevations. The wildlife is featured in high quality photographs, from monkeys and lemurs to brightly-coloured frogs, leaf-cutter ants and highly camouflaged geckos and insects.

The presentation also covers some of the indigenous people who still live in the rainforests, and the threats that these remarkable ecosystems face from unsustainable logging, conversion to cattle pasture and agriculture, mineral exploitation and the hunting of their animals for bushmeat and so-called medicinal products. It finishes by highlighting the fact that our generation is deciding the future of the rainforests and that we can all make a contribution to ensuring that they continue to thrive in the world.

If you would like me to give this talk to a group or at an event, please contact me.

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My TEDx talk – Restoring the ancient Caledonian Forest.

TEDx TEDx – Restoring the Caledonian Forest

Recent posts

  • The abundant life of dead wood, part 1
  • Gannets galore, part 2
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  • A shieldbug extravaganza, part 2
  • A shieldbug extravaganza, part 1

News

  • We have one place available on our workshop, ‘A Rewilding Journey’
  • New video: A Sense of Wonder
  • 2022 Caledonian Forest Engagement Diary now available
  • Lessons from Nature webinar recording now available online
  • ‘A Rewilding Journey’ workshop 16-23 October

I’m speaking at…

  • 'A Rewilding Journey' workshop scheduled for 14-21 May 2022 in Glen Affric – 14 May 2022–
    21 May 2022
  • A Rewilding Journey: Rewilding the World and Ourselves – 14 May 2022–
    21 May 2022

Over on Twitter…

Alan Watson FeatherstoneFollow

Ecologist, nature photographer and inspirational speaker. Founder of the award-winning charity Trees for Life.

Alan Watson Featherstone
AlanWatsonFeat1Alan Watson Featherstone@AlanWatsonFeat1·
13 May

Kittiwakes are nesting on the sandstone cliffs of the Moray Coast just now. Between couples exhibiting pair bonding behaviour, single birds advertising their availability & squabbling neighbours at the densely-packed nesting sites, there are a lot of red tongues on display!

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wilder_actionPaul Wright 🇬🇧🇯🇲🇸🇰@wilder_action·
11 May

Missionary

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AllBugsGo2KevinAll Bugs Go To Kevin@AllBugsGo2Kevin·
11 May

I saw, for the first time, an Aedes sp Mosquito feeding on a Box Turtle today. I was thrilled to get a capture!

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