Scientists estimate that 50% of the land-based biodiversity, or plants, insects, and animals, live in the forest canopies i.e. off the ground. Further, scientists also estimate that only 10% of this biodiversity has been discovered to date. It has been only been since the 1970s that Meg and several other scientists began exploring and researching biodiversity in the canopy treetops around the world. These pioneers had to invent the means to conduct treetop exploration from scratch. They designed and used ropes, harnesses, hot-air balloons, and walkways for treetop exploration to solve mysteries in the world’s forests, especially insect pests and ecosystem health.
Importantly, what we now know is that the forest canopy is the essential machine that keeps our planet humming. Meaning, it is the source of pollinators, productivity, medicines, climate control, flowers, fruits, timber, and carbon storage that keep us alive.
Meg’s Mission Green goal? To build approximately 10 canopy walkways in the world’s highest biodiversity forests — not only to save species through ecotourism but also to provide income for indigenous people, and create exploration sites for the next generation of field biologists to discover what lives in the treetops.
The interactive map below gives a global view of canopy walkways already in existence around the world (note: it is not representative of all canopy walkways). Created by Eva Castagna, Williams College ’22; TREE Foundation intern summer 2020.
Many canopy walkways have been inspired by Meg’s work. But there are voids: several key forests still need walkways to conserve their species. Mission Green hopes to fill in the voids with future walkways to save species, employ local workers, sponsor student research, and inspire ecotourism. Learn more at the Mission Green info page.