Heartwood by Rowan Reid
The life story of a forester, fascinating insights about growing trees, and innovative concepts about community development – it’s a winning combination bound to engage. Heartwood: The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit by Rowan Reid is a satisfying read with new ideas for farmers, tree-changers, conservationists, land managers, educators and scientists alike.
Rowan’s work as a forester has led him to teach and work with farmers around the world, and he draws on these diverse experiences throughout the book. And it was during his 20-year tenure as a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne that he started to develop his ideas on how to help landowners learn about and use trees for conservation and profit.
In 2010 Rowan won the Australian Eureka Prize for Excellence in Environmental Education with his Australian Master TreeGrower Program for landowners. He continues to oversee this program nationally and internationally through the not-for-profit organisation Australian Agroforestry Foundation, of which he is a director. Rowan also has his own property, Bambra Agroforestry Farm, adjacent to the Otway Ranges in southern Victoria. Over the past 20 years more than 10,000 visitors have toured this outdoor learning centre.
Heartwood describes important people, conversations and moments along the author’s journey as he develops ways to help landowners learn about and use trees to meet their own particular needs and circumstances. It’s a story not of an expert spreading his knowledge but rather the dynamic project of engaging with others in their challenges on the land. The book’s personable tone endears readers both to the author and to his philosophies – and they are philosophies that sometimes challenge accepted views.
The 300-page hardcover book is richly illustrated with coloured photographs and wildlife illustrations, with diagrams making the data more digestible. While the 15 chapters are each themed around a different tree species, mostly Australian, these are not prescriptive – often the title species serves just as a jumping off point to explore a whole range of topics spanning social, historical and scientific.
And so the book has three strong and interwoven themes – contemporary social issues such as the environmental movement, the science that underpins the wise use of trees in rural landscapes, and the author’s personal story. The skilful weaving together of these three separate but interrelated themes has produced something quite special – a narrative with a rich context, absorbing connections and valuable insights.
Rowan’s vision is of a more resilient, diverse and prosperous rural landscape – a landscape in which trees have a vital role in providing a multitude of benefits for landowners and for their communities – benefits that range from land protection to shelter, from biodiversity to timber. The book provides insight into the out-reach programs Rowan has developed - programs that help landowners gain some of the skills and contacts they need to feel confident about investing in trees and revegetation.
Heartwood, like Rowan’s approach in the field, recognises that most landowners care deeply about the land they manage – and that they would like to hand it on in a better shape than when they received it. It also recognises that what happens in rural and forested landscapes is – at its core – about people, and people’s hopes and aspirations.
Heartwood showcases the diversity of ways in which trees can and are being used by landowners to bring about positive change in rural landscapes. It recognises that there’s heart, art and emotion to living with trees, and that, to use Rowan’s own words, “as growers, we are part of the story”.
Signed copies available from the author: http://agroforestry.org.au/
Richard Moore
December 2017
The life story of a forester, fascinating insights about growing trees, and innovative concepts about community development – it’s a winning combination bound to engage. Heartwood: The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit by Rowan Reid is a satisfying read with new ideas for farmers, tree-changers, conservationists, land managers, educators and scientists alike.
Rowan’s work as a forester has led him to teach and work with farmers around the world, and he draws on these diverse experiences throughout the book. And it was during his 20-year tenure as a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne that he started to develop his ideas on how to help landowners learn about and use trees for conservation and profit.
In 2010 Rowan won the Australian Eureka Prize for Excellence in Environmental Education with his Australian Master TreeGrower Program for landowners. He continues to oversee this program nationally and internationally through the not-for-profit organisation Australian Agroforestry Foundation, of which he is a director. Rowan also has his own property, Bambra Agroforestry Farm, adjacent to the Otway Ranges in southern Victoria. Over the past 20 years more than 10,000 visitors have toured this outdoor learning centre.
Heartwood describes important people, conversations and moments along the author’s journey as he develops ways to help landowners learn about and use trees to meet their own particular needs and circumstances. It’s a story not of an expert spreading his knowledge but rather the dynamic project of engaging with others in their challenges on the land. The book’s personable tone endears readers both to the author and to his philosophies – and they are philosophies that sometimes challenge accepted views.
The 300-page hardcover book is richly illustrated with coloured photographs and wildlife illustrations, with diagrams making the data more digestible. While the 15 chapters are each themed around a different tree species, mostly Australian, these are not prescriptive – often the title species serves just as a jumping off point to explore a whole range of topics spanning social, historical and scientific.
And so the book has three strong and interwoven themes – contemporary social issues such as the environmental movement, the science that underpins the wise use of trees in rural landscapes, and the author’s personal story. The skilful weaving together of these three separate but interrelated themes has produced something quite special – a narrative with a rich context, absorbing connections and valuable insights.
Rowan’s vision is of a more resilient, diverse and prosperous rural landscape – a landscape in which trees have a vital role in providing a multitude of benefits for landowners and for their communities – benefits that range from land protection to shelter, from biodiversity to timber. The book provides insight into the out-reach programs Rowan has developed - programs that help landowners gain some of the skills and contacts they need to feel confident about investing in trees and revegetation.
Heartwood, like Rowan’s approach in the field, recognises that most landowners care deeply about the land they manage – and that they would like to hand it on in a better shape than when they received it. It also recognises that what happens in rural and forested landscapes is – at its core – about people, and people’s hopes and aspirations.
Heartwood showcases the diversity of ways in which trees can and are being used by landowners to bring about positive change in rural landscapes. It recognises that there’s heart, art and emotion to living with trees, and that, to use Rowan’s own words, “as growers, we are part of the story”.
Signed copies available from the author: http://agroforestry.org.au/
Richard Moore
December 2017