This interdisciplinary panel brings together researchers, scientists, and artists to explore the intricate, often invisible relationships that bind us to trees, forested landscapes, and the biodiversity they sustain. Moving beyond a purely woodland perspective, our speakers will traverse scales — from global forest canopies and the economics of conservation to farmland biodiversity, agroforestry systems, and the sensory world of mangrove roots. Along the way, they will examine plant communities and tree cover across fragmented systems, showing how data, agriculture, and plant ecology can inform more sustainable, integrated landscapes. Together, they will weave a narrative that sees trees—whether in deep forests or working farmlands—not merely as resources, but as complex social-ecological connectors, dynamic archives of memory, and powerful metaphors for connection amid growing ecological and social divides.
Program
16:30-17:00 – Registration
17:00-17:05 – Opening Remarks
17:05-17:10 – Biodiversity Finance – Astrid Zabel, Head of Impact Area, University of Bern
17:10-17:15 – Bridging Ecology and Planning for Biodiversity-Inclusive Urban Futures – Li Li, Associate Professor, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
17:15-17:20 – The Tide is not a Cycle but a Miracle – Yassine Rachidi, PhD Researcher in Urban Studies, University of Basel
17:20-17:25 – From plant features to global ecosystem conservation – Haozhi Ma, Associate Professor, Nanjing University
17:25-17:30 – Agricultural Landscape and their Biodiversity – Felix Herzog, Independent Senior Researcher
17:30-18:10 – Panel Discussion
