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Life in the TreetopsLife in the Treetops
A New Era of Scientific Exploration inA New Era of Scientific Exploration in
the Worldthe World’’s Forest Canopiess Forest Canopies
By
Andrew Mitchell
Director, Global Canopy Programme
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GCP STEERING COMMITTEE
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
*
CHK Charities
Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust
John Ellerman Foundation
Darwin Initiative
What is Life?
Where did it come from?
Imagine a weather forecast on our other planets.
200 mph winds in the morning, acid rain by the afternoon,
Gigantic volcanic eruptions overnight.
The Earth IS special. Only here has life evolved.
The Rainforest Canopy!The Rainforest Canopy!
The most diverse expression The most diverse expression
of life on earthof life on earth
……perhaps its greatest creation?perhaps its greatest creation?
6CO6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O CO C66HH12120066 + 6O + 6O22
What do trees do?
Take carbon dioxide from the air,
plus water, add sunlight and leaves
and they produce sugar and oxygen.
A simple formula -
but look what the canopy creates…
Greatest
Diversity of
Life anywhere!
What is the
canopy like?
Tree crowns do not touch
2/3 EpiphytesA Hanging Garden A Hanging Garden
……of lifeof life
Epiphytes cover branches highEpiphytes cover branches high
above ground providing homesabove ground providing homes
For many species.For many species.
The canopy has curious lifestyles:.The canopy has curious lifestyles:.
Some frogs climb intoSome frogs climb into
bromeliads up on tree branchesbromeliads up on tree branches
to place their tadpoles in to place their tadpoles in
water poolswater pools trapped in thetrapped in the
leaves. leaves. (Dendrobates pumilio)
Then the mother brings a single unfertilised eggThen the mother brings a single unfertilised egg
each day to feed the tadpole!each day to feed the tadpole!
There are canopy
highways in the
trees. Animals
memorise them like
we remember a
favourite walk.
To move around
you must be agile,
be able to leap,
glide,
…………or fly.
(Spider monkey)
Canopies create
homes for animals
in many different
Ways.
A mouse lemur
from Madagascar
Canopies change our
way of thinking
about life.
Sometimes bats
thought to be rare
from scientific studies
on the ground
are found
to be common
in the canopy.
Nobody had looked
for them there.
(Tube nosed fruit bat)
Canopies contain
many flowers and fruits.
Mammals, birds, insects,
even lizards pollinate
them. Many are
pollinated by the wind.
Flowers produce nectar to attract pollinators.Flowers produce nectar to attract pollinators.
This lorikeet from Fiji is cutting into the base of This lorikeet from Fiji is cutting into the base of
a flower to get the nectar and will carry pollen a flower to get the nectar and will carry pollen
on its feathers to another tree.on its feathers to another tree.
The red The red ‘‘arilaril’’ on this seed is rich in protein on this seed is rich in protein
and is coloured red to attract a bird to eatand is coloured red to attract a bird to eat
itit..
This nutmeg seed will be dropped This nutmeg seed will be dropped
after passing through the bird, perhaps a pigeon, after passing through the bird, perhaps a pigeon,
to germinate away from the parent tree.to germinate away from the parent tree.
Animals communicate
in the canopy.
BBright colours,
Sound and
odours, enable them
to communicate
among the dense
green leaves.
The howler
monkey is
one of the
loudest
creatures
in the
canopy.
Its calls warn
groups feeding
on leaves to
stay away from
each other.
Many predators live
in the canopy….
The blunt headed
tree snake
snatches small
lizards from leaves.
It has a special spine
enabling it to reach
across gaps
between branches.
Clouded leopard
The clouded leopard is the most The clouded leopard is the most abrorealabroreal of of
the big cats. It climbs trees in Asiathe big cats. It climbs trees in Asia’’s forests as forests andnd
feeds on monkeys, birds and small mammalsfeeds on monkeys, birds and small mammals..
Harpy eagleThe harpy eagle
hunts monkeys
and sloths
in the canopies of
Latin American
forests.
New canopy
primate
species…
…are still
found
Today!
Studying canopy
primates is hard.
Species, such as
this Müeller’s
gibbon in Borneo,
move fast and
live high in the canopy.
Three million yearsThree million years
ago, our ancestorsago, our ancestors
left the canopy toleft the canopy to
begin a life on thebegin a life on the
ground.ground.
Now were goingNow were going
back!back!
So - how did scientists begin exploring
this unknown world?
William Beebe, an
American
oceanographer, was
the first scientist
to think about exploring
the forest canopy.
He never got there but
invented the
‘bathysphere’ for
exploring the
bottom of the ocean!
"Yet another continent of life
remains to be discovered, not
upon the earth, but one or two
hundred feet above it,
extending over thousands of
square miles … There awaits
a rich harvest for the naturalist
who overcomes the obstacles -
- gravitation, ants, thorns,
rotten trunks -- and mounts to
the summits of the … trees.”
1818 William Beebe
The first problem…
How to get into
the canopy?
Trees are as high as
85 metres in the Asian
tropics.
…and have few
branches!
The first full scientific expedition to set out
to explore the canopy was from
Oxford University in 1929 to British Guiana
Equipment was carried in by river toEquipment was carried in by river to
MoraballiMoraballi Creek Creek
Canons were used to fire ropes
up into the canopy to place a
wooden chair to haul
researchers up. Local climbers
proved to be better!
Max Nicholson, below, was the
first Scientist to spend the night
in the canopy. He became a
founder of the World Wildlife
Fund.
Team shot b and w slide
In the 1980In the 1980’’s,s, teams led by Andrew Mitchell from UK (left), built teams led by Andrew Mitchell from UK (left), built
aerial walkways aerial walkways to compare the forest canopy in Panama, Costa Rica,to compare the forest canopy in Panama, Costa Rica,
Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.
These walkways wereThese walkways were
light-weight and portable.light-weight and portable.
Many canopy walkwaysMany canopy walkways
now exist around thenow exist around the
world, both for science,world, both for science,
education and tourism.education and tourism.
Later, ropes and specialised climbingLater, ropes and specialised climbing
equipment became the mostequipment became the most
popular method of gaining access to thepopular method of gaining access to the
canopy - for research.canopy - for research.
In the 1980’s a
French team, led by
Prof. Francis Hallé
came up with a new
idea.
A hot air balloon and a
raft.
Many people thought
it was crazy!
Professor Francis Hallé, 1980’s
But it worked!
Next Hallé dreamed
of using an airship
This too was a success!
The airship is the largest
hot air balloon in the
world.
Scientists are carried
below in a small raft
from which they
collect specimens across
the canopy.
A pilot flies the airship
which is powered by
a propeller.
Close up balloon and pretzel scan from
geographical
It can carry a much
bigger raft!
Scientists use this like an islandScientists use this like an island
in the tree tops, for in the tree tops, for
1-3 weeks. 1-3 weeks.
The airship can The airship can
move it tmove it to a new place.o a new place.
IKOS Tree House
Also
developed by
the French
Canopy
Consortium
In the 1990’s…
- The Canopy
‘Bubble’.
A helium filled
balloon.
Bubble and net
The ‘bubble’
allows single
researchers to
access the top
of the canopy.
A day’s work for the
biologist and
photographer
Laurent Pyot!
Nice ICOS picThe ‘IKOS’, a kind of
metal tree-house,
is assembled
by researchers in
a tree crown.
Three Scientists can
live there and make
observations.
There is even a small
kitchen.
In 1990
Dr Alan
Smith
dreamed of
putting a crane
into the
rainforest.
A new era
of canopy
exploration
was born!
Alan Smith, right, with
Andrew Mitchell,
testing the first
Smithsonian canopy
crane in Panama.
The ‘gondola’
suspended below the
crane ‘jib’ has made
canopy access safe and
easy for all.
Crane picture from air
helicopter
Ten canopy cranes are now in useTen canopy cranes are now in use
in forests in forests around the world.around the world.
Helicopters are used to put the cranes in.Helicopters are used to put the cranes in.
Sequence of shots with gondola and cooler bag
Equipment can be easily loaded from the ground
Safe
access!
to
1 hectare
of
forest
50 metres up!
COPAS‘Copas’ is being built in
French Guiana.
Scientists are still
creating new
inventions to reach
the canopy.
The
Canopy
Glider
is a new
canopy
exploration
vehicle
to be
tested
by the
Canopy
Consortium.
So what have scientists discovered
about the canopy?
Moths from enchanted canopy
Many new and strange species!
40 taxonomists took part 40 taxonomists took part in this major studyin this major study
of life on earth, in Panama 2004/5. 1 millionof life on earth, in Panama 2004/5. 1 million
specimens have to be identified.specimens have to be identified.
OnOn Project IBISCA Project IBISCA Andreas Andreas FlorenFloren collects insects by fogging collects insects by fogging
tree crowns with tree crowns with ‘‘pyrethrumpyrethrum’’ which only stuns them. They fall to which only stuns them. They fall to
thethe ground. ground. Most wake up and escape, but some are collected andMost wake up and escape, but some are collected and
preserved for study.preserved for study.
Insect boxes
Many canopy insect species have neverMany canopy insect species have never
been seen or been seen or described by scientistsdescribed by scientists
before. before. In some Asian forests it can beIn some Asian forests it can be
70-80% of the catch!70-80% of the catch!
From studies like this, scientists nowFrom studies like this, scientists now
believe that 40% of all terrestrialbelieve that 40% of all terrestrial
biodiversity biodiversity exists in the canopy.exists in the canopy.
Best
global
estimate?
5-15 million
species exist
on earth. The
truth lies in the
canopy.
What about under the soil or sea?
Nobody knows that either!
Weird eyed inesct
Catydid 1/2/ pics
How did evolution
design this species?
The canopy is a
place full of
complexity.
It is a
powerhouse of
interactions
between animals
and plants.
Life and the atmosphere
Clouds and forests / mist water droplets
The Canopy is theThe Canopy is the
primary interfaceprimary interface
between life and thebetween life and the
atmosphere for 90% ofatmosphere for 90% of
the worldthe world’’s livings living
biomass.biomass.
This makes it veryThis makes it very
important forimportant for
understanding how theunderstanding how the
Biosphere interactsBiosphere interacts
with the Atmosphere.with the Atmosphere.
The Amazon isThe Amazon is
probably one of theprobably one of the
worldworld’’s greatests greatest
Biosphere-AtmosphereBiosphere-Atmosphere
Hotspots.Hotspots.
John misty pictures
We have learnedWe have learned
to respect theto respect the
canopy.canopy.
It can be aIt can be a
dangerousdangerous
place place to work,to work,
unlessunless
safe methodssafe methods
are used.are used.
Canopy explorers are pioneers!
Mark Moffett
James
Aldred
Nalini
Nadkarni
It is also a new frontier for discovery!It is also a new frontier for discovery!
An inspires…
the human heart
Balloon and river in Borneo
The forest canopy is The forest canopy is
one of the most beautiful places on earth one of the most beautiful places on earth
to explore.to explore.
Post card sloth
It is full of surprises!It is full of surprises!A three toed sloth high above ground.A three toed sloth high above ground.
Why are Forest Canopies Why are Forest Canopies SoSo Important? Important?
- Pollination services valued at US$12 billion per annum
- Carbon sequestration trading valued at US$3Trillion
- Flowering patterns disrupted by global change
- Flood risk / disease could increase with impacts on canopy
People
Atmosphere
- Influence hydrology and precipitation over 45M
ha of land
- Rising CO2 alters canopy function
- ‘Green ocean clouds’ created by VOC’s may be disrupted
Life
- 40% of species on earth’s surface
- Value to medicine & agriculture unknown
- Destroying canopies alters evolution forever
Source: OZANNE et al. (2003) Biodiversity meets the atmosphere: A global view of forest canopies. SCIENCE 301
Millions of tons
of carbon stored in
wood is
released into the
atmosphere when
trees are burned.
This increases
Global warming.
COCO22Towers like these on the
Large Scale Biological
Assessment (LBA) in the
Amazon measure the
movement (fluxes) of
gases such as carbon
dioxide, oxygen and
water vapour
in and out
of the forest.
Dr Antonio
Nobre, a
researcher at
INPA,
National
Institute for
Amazonian
Research,
takes a
reading from a
gas analyser
on a 55 metre
tower, north
of Manaus.
For over 400,000 years there has been about 240For over 400,000 years there has been about 240
parts per million of CO2 in the earthparts per million of CO2 in the earth’’s atmosphere.s atmosphere.
Today the instrument on this tower is showing it hasToday the instrument on this tower is showing it has
risen to 381 risen to 381 ppmppm..
Much of this is due to emissions from human activity.Much of this is due to emissions from human activity.
Lemuroid Ringtail Possum - BIOCLIM ModelLemuroid Ringtail Possum - BIOCLIM Model
Present + 1 deg.
46%
+ 3.5 deg.
0%
Ref: Williams, SE. (2003) A Report to the Biological Diversity Advisory Committee,
Environment Australia, Canberra
In Queensland, Australia, computer models ofIn Queensland, Australia, computer models of
climate change predict that manyclimate change predict that many
species could species could die out because theirdie out because their
habitat (red colour) may dry out in the nexthabitat (red colour) may dry out in the next
50-80 years.50-80 years...
Could a similar process happen in the Amazon?Could a similar process happen in the Amazon?
A groundbreaking initiative linkingA groundbreaking initiative linking
major studies of forest canopiesmajor studies of forest canopies
addressing biodiversity and climateaddressing biodiversity and climate
change worldwide.change worldwide.
To investigate some of these problems
canopy scientists decided the set up the..
CANOPY
DATABASE
They set out to linkThey set out to link
canopy studiescanopy studies
Worldwide andWorldwide and
create a research plan
The GCP Steering Committee and Focal countries The GCP Steering Committee and Focal countries
• Dr Pierre Charles Dominique,
COPAS, France
• Professor Roger Kitching,
Griffith University, Australia
• Professor Nigel Stork,
James Cook University, Australia
• Dr Tohru Nakashizuka,
Kyoto University, Japan
• Professor Dieter Anhuf,
University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Talita Fontoura,
University de Estadual, Brazil
• Dr Joe Wright,
STRI, Smithsonian, Panama
• Andrew Mitchell,
Director, Global Canopy Foundation, UK
• Dr Margaret Lowman,
Marie Selby Botanical Garden, USA
• Dr Nalini Nadkarni,
Evergreen State University, USA
• Professor Cao Min
Xishuangbanna Botanical Garden, China
Madagascar
Brazil
Ghana
India
Malaysia
GCP published its new GCP published its new
20:20 Vision 20:20 Vision
for Canopy for Canopy ScienceScience
in 2003.in 2003.
GCP 20:20 Vision for Canopy ScienceGCP 20:20 Vision for Canopy Science
• Five focal countries: Brazil, Ghana, Madagascar, Malaysia, India
• Targeted research, designed to investigate impact of climate change
on canopy biodiversity using ‘whole forest observatories’.
• Demonstration projects on value of canopy ecotourism and
canopy horticulture for sustainable development of local communities
• Monitoring and early warning assessment network
• Information to key stakeholders including governments
• Phase I - Scoping the project 2001-4
• Phase II - Testing and financing 2005-7
• Phase III - Begin Project Implementation 2008….
Climbing expertise
FCO logo
Darwin
GCP is now GCP is now helping tohelping to
supportsupport
training courses in Brazil,training courses in Brazil,
and other countries.and other countries.
At University of At University of OuroOuro PretoPreto
with funding fromwith funding from
the the BrasilanBrasilan and and
British governments.British governments.
(UK Foreign and Commonwealth(UK Foreign and Commonwealth
Office - Global Opportunities Fund)Office - Global Opportunities Fund)
..and other donors...and other donors.
BCAP Courses
GCP Basic Canopy
Access Proficiency
(BCAP) Courses
enable students and
professionals to learn
modern safe methods
of accessing the
forest canopy.
GCP is also helping toGCP is also helping to
develop canopy ecotourismdevelop canopy ecotourism
to provide sustainableto provide sustainable
development opportunitiesdevelopment opportunities
for local communitiesfor local communities
worldwide.worldwide.
Field Station
Research
Forest Restoration
Capacity Building
Satellite Mapping
Interpretaion Centre
Model for a canopy ecotourismModel for a canopy ecotourism
project planned for Madagascarproject planned for Madagascar
Whole Forest Observatories: a global
network for monitoring canopy
biodiversity and climate change
In 2005 GCP received UN Backing In 2005 GCP received UN Backing
for a major new initiative:for a major new initiative:
Project Partners
GEF Agency - UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
IEA (International Execution Agency)
GCP - UK Global Canopy Programme
Current NEAs (National Execution Agencies)
Brazil - INPA Nat. Inst for Amazonian Res.
Ghana - CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Res.
India - ATREE Ashoka Trust for Res. in Ecol. and the Env.
Madagascar - MICET Madagascar Inst. For Cons. of the Trop. Env.
Malaysia - ITBC Institute for Tropical Biology Conservation.
The Global Canopy Research Network.The Global Canopy Research Network.
Existing Canopy Cranes GCP Proposed new Canopy Cranes
Existing Fluxnet Towers ,
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New UNEP/GCP Whole Forest Observatories
With UNEP, GCP is planning a network of
‘Whole Forest Observatories’ across the tropics.
In Brazil Ghana, India, Malaysia and later China.
A canopy crane will provide accessA canopy crane will provide access
- from leaf tip to root tip - at each Observatory. - from leaf tip to root tip - at each Observatory.
Targeted research, training and communityTargeted research, training and community
development projects will be carried out at eachdevelopment projects will be carried out at each
site and at associated sites.site and at associated sites.
The Budget?
It is a lot of
money.
But…It is less
than half of
what a major
international
footballer gets
paid. Who can
say whose
game has more
value?
How muchHow much
do we valuedo we value
LifeLife
andand our our
Atmosphere..Atmosphere..
for People?for People?
A challengeA challenge
for our future,for our future,
....in the canopyin the canopy
high frontier!high frontier!
www.globalcanopy.org