‘Church Forest’ is a new documentary project featuring the work of legendary scientist Meg Lowman, and the unseen world of tree canopies set within the endangered treetops of Ethiopia. To date, 95% of Ethiopia’s forest have been eradicated because of deforestation, but remarkably tiny pockets of untouched forests remain and at their centers lie churches. These vestiges of forest have been preserved due in part to church parishioners who have placed symbolic and religious significance on the land. It is in these remaining oases that the ‘Church Forest’ documentary team will climb to the treetops and capture Lowman and her researchers studying the trees and the sacred cultural and environmental practices to go on within. Lowman, known as the mother of canopy research, is the leading treetop canopy scientist. Through decades of work, she has managed to design radical new ways of exploring and sustaining treetops – including hot-air balloons and walkways. Filming for this project is set to begin Janurary 2012, but they still need your help to get produced! To support their efforts and to learn more about this stellar project, visit their Kickstarter page here.

+ Church Forest

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Post tags: canopy research, Church Forest, deforestation, ethiopia tree canopies, kickstarter, Meg Lowman, tree architecture, Tree Bridges, tree canopies, tree churches, tree living, treehouse, treetop architecture, treetop churches, treetop communities, treetop villages