Written by Lily Frank, Summer 2025 intern
On May 29, 2025, the UMass Campus Center was transformed into an ecosystem of conservation organizations, sustainability infographics, and an air of environmental innovation. As soon as I arrived, I received a complimentary book called “How to Love a Forest” by Ethan Tapper.
At Canopy 2025, a forestry conference hosted by ForestsWork, speakers and attendees united in their passion for forests. Presenters shared forest restoration methods, information about utilizing wood for biomass energy, and the importance of sustainable building practices.
Tapper, a forester and the author of the book I received upon entry, was the event’s keynote speaker. He asked: What does it mean to love a forest? Does honorable forest stewardship consist of saving the trees? Or does it involve the intentional removal of an ecosystem’s unhealthy aspects to make way for new life?
Land management panelists discussed the dichotomy between leaving forests alone and making difficult decisions to actively steward them.
Leah Hopkins, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) first-ever Indigenous People’s Partnership Coordinator, advocated for tribal consideration in forestry. She explained the interdependence of Indigenous communities and nature through water, wildlife, and way of life. By acknowledging tribal history in forests, Hopkins emphasized the value of shifting from traditional ecology to “deep-time” native knowledge for forest stewardship.
Tom Lautzenheiser, a Senior Conservation Ecologist with Mass Audubon, brought landowners’ perspectives to the conversation. He suggested that while an active approach to forestry may be the most beneficial for the forest, forest landowners may take different actions based on their values.
After the panel, professionals held breakout sessions on various topics. I learned about federal forest data sources and how landowners have worked with foresters to accomplish their restoration goals. Other sessions focused on the impact of environmental disturbances, Indigenous cultural revitalization, and pursuing a career in natural resource professions, among other topics.
During each break in the conference, attendees walked down “Information Alley,” which guided them to tables with representatives from various DCR programs, environment advocacy organizations, community exploration programs, and more. At the DCR Forest Health Program table, I discovered the pattern that elm zigzag sawflies gnaw into elm leaves.
This conference called us to collective action to protect our environment by reminding us that we are one with nature. The available resources accentuated opportunities for constituents to connect with nature and collaborate on restoration projects. The shared forestry anecdotes were heartfelt and moving and I’ve already started reading “How to Love a Forest” to learn more!
