Interview with Dr. Meg Lowman by Hidden Valley Elementary School Student

Kelly, a student at Hidden Valley Elementary School writes in with some questions for her Amazon Rainforest report.  Below are the questions and answers:

Dr. Margret D. Lowman, sometimes called CanopyMeg, is a Rainforest Canopy Expert and Director of Environmental Initiatives at New College in Florida. She has been venturing through rainforest’s canopies for over 25 years. Over the course of these years she has been becoming an expert on the use of different canopy access techniques. Lowman has also written over 95 peer-reviewed publications, and three published books. She is now known as a world-renowned canopy expert. Today, Lowman focuses on education in science and the conservation of the rainforests. She now frequently talks to kids and adults about her experiences in the rainforests. The groups she speaks to includes elementary kids all the way through corporate executives. I contacted Dr. Lowman and she was ever so helpful to answer some questions for me.

Q: What inspired you to start studying the Amazon Rainforest?
A: It is the biggest and most important rainforest in the world.

Q: When was your first trip to a rainforest?
A: In Australia – See my book, Life in the Treetops, for details!

Q: How did you feel when you saw the Amazon for your first time?
A: I was in awe – [I] Did an over flight which was awesome. And [I] used a quarter-mile long Canopy walkway which is also awesome.

Q: Personally, what is your favorite animal in the rainforest and why?
A: My favorite animal is the sloth…. Slow and steady wins the race. It lives in the Canopy and eats the Canopy (leaves only) and has a whole set of biodiversity living in its fur.

Q: What is the climate like there?
A: Perfect all year round — Humid, warm but cool in the Understory.

Q: What is the main cause for forest fires in the Amazon Rainforest?
A: A combination of lightning (but the deforestation by humans has led to fragmentation which makes for drier forests and thus the lightning does more damage) and also some agriculture. (But historically these local burns had no influence, but now that there is more fragmentation these also have more disturbing influence.)

Q: What is your favorite thing to study in the Amazon?
A: What plant is eaten by what insect.

Q: What foods are common amongst the rainforest?
A: Everything – All of nature is useful, when used sustainably. I love the palm grubs (served in garlic), the hearts of the palm (only when grown sustainably) and others.

Q: What is a rare plant that lives there? Can you describe its characteristics?
A: Most Rainforest trees are getting rarer — One of my favorites is the Ceiba Pentandra (Great Kapok Tree) which is commonly logged so there are not many left. It is huge and majestic, and the Harpy Eagle nests in it!

Q: What is the most common export from the Amazon Rainforest?
A: Timber, soy products and beef.

Q: What is the most common import to the Amazon?
A: Ecotourism. (If and only if you and your fellow students and families visit the Amazon for vacation instead of Disney World!)