Life in the TreetopsLife in the Treetops

A New Era of Scientific Exploration inA New Era of Scientific Exploration in

the Worldthe World’’s Forest Canopiess Forest Canopies

By

Andrew Mitchell

Director, Global Canopy Programme

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

GCP STEERING COMMITTEE

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND

*

CHK Charities

Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust

John Ellerman Foundation

Darwin Initiative

What is Life?

Where did it come from?

Imagine a weather forecast on our other planets.

200 mph winds in the morning, acid rain by the afternoon,

Gigantic volcanic eruptions overnight.

The Earth IS special. Only here has life evolved.

The Rainforest Canopy!The Rainforest Canopy!

The most diverse expression The most diverse expression

of life on earthof life on earth

……perhaps its greatest creation?perhaps its greatest creation?

6CO6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O CO C66HH12120066 + 6O + 6O22

What do trees do?

Take carbon dioxide from the air,

plus water, add sunlight and leaves

and they produce sugar and oxygen.

A simple formula -

but look what the canopy creates…

Greatest

Diversity of

Life anywhere!

What is the

canopy like?

Tree crowns do not touch

2/3 EpiphytesA Hanging Garden A Hanging Garden

……of lifeof life

Epiphytes cover branches highEpiphytes cover branches high

above ground providing homesabove ground providing homes

For many species.For many species.

The canopy has curious lifestyles:.The canopy has curious lifestyles:.

Some frogs climb intoSome frogs climb into

bromeliads up on tree branchesbromeliads up on tree branches

to place their tadpoles in to place their tadpoles in

water poolswater pools trapped in thetrapped in the

leaves. leaves. (Dendrobates pumilio)

Then the mother brings a single unfertilised eggThen the mother brings a single unfertilised egg

each day to feed the tadpole!each day to feed the tadpole!

There are canopy

highways in the

trees. Animals

memorise them like

we remember a

favourite walk.

To move around

you must be agile,

be able to leap,

glide,

…………or fly.

(Spider monkey)

Canopies create

homes for animals

in many different

Ways.

A mouse lemur

from Madagascar

Canopies change our

way of thinking

about life.

Sometimes bats

thought to be rare

from scientific studies

on the ground

are found

to be common

in the canopy.

Nobody had looked

for them there.

(Tube nosed fruit bat)

Canopies contain

many flowers and fruits.

Mammals, birds, insects,

even lizards pollinate

them. Many are

pollinated by the wind.

Flowers produce nectar to attract pollinators.Flowers produce nectar to attract pollinators.

This lorikeet from Fiji is cutting into the base of This lorikeet from Fiji is cutting into the base of

a flower to get the nectar and will carry pollen a flower to get the nectar and will carry pollen

on its feathers to another tree.on its feathers to another tree.

The red The red ‘‘arilaril’’ on this seed is rich in protein on this seed is rich in protein

and is coloured red to attract a bird to eatand is coloured red to attract a bird to eat

itit..

This nutmeg seed will be dropped This nutmeg seed will be dropped

after passing through the bird, perhaps a pigeon, after passing through the bird, perhaps a pigeon,

to germinate away from the parent tree.to germinate away from the parent tree.

Animals communicate

in the canopy.

BBright colours,

Sound and

odours, enable them

to communicate

among the dense

green leaves.

The howler

monkey is

one of the

loudest

creatures

in the

canopy.

Its calls warn

groups feeding

on leaves to

stay away from

each other.

Many predators live

in the canopy….

The blunt headed

tree snake

snatches small

lizards from leaves.

It has a special spine

enabling it to reach

across gaps

between branches.

Clouded leopard

The clouded leopard is the most The clouded leopard is the most abrorealabroreal of of

the big cats. It climbs trees in Asiathe big cats. It climbs trees in Asia’’s forests as forests andnd

feeds on monkeys, birds and small mammalsfeeds on monkeys, birds and small mammals..

Harpy eagleThe harpy eagle

hunts monkeys

and sloths

in the canopies of

Latin American

forests.

New canopy

primate

species…

…are still

found

Today!

Studying canopy

primates is hard.

Species, such as

this Müeller’s

gibbon in Borneo,

move fast and

live high in the canopy.

Three million yearsThree million years

ago, our ancestorsago, our ancestors

left the canopy toleft the canopy to

begin a life on thebegin a life on the

ground.ground.

Now were goingNow were going

back!back!

So - how did scientists begin exploring

this unknown world?

William Beebe, an

American

oceanographer, was

the first scientist

to think about exploring

the forest canopy.

He never got there but

invented the

‘bathysphere’ for

exploring the

bottom of the ocean!

"Yet another continent of life

remains to be discovered, not

upon the earth, but one or two

hundred feet above it,

extending over thousands of

square miles … There awaits

a rich harvest for the naturalist

who overcomes the obstacles -

- gravitation, ants, thorns,

rotten trunks -- and mounts to

the summits of the … trees.”

1818 William Beebe

The first problem…

How to get into

the canopy?

Trees are as high as

85 metres in the Asian

tropics.

…and have few

branches!

The first full scientific expedition to set out

to explore the canopy was from

Oxford University in 1929 to British Guiana

Equipment was carried in by river toEquipment was carried in by river to

MoraballiMoraballi Creek Creek

Canons were used to fire ropes

up into the canopy to place a

wooden chair to haul

researchers up. Local climbers

proved to be better!

Max Nicholson, below, was the

first Scientist to spend the night

in the canopy. He became a

founder of the World Wildlife

Fund.

Team shot b and w slide

In the 1980In the 1980’’s,s, teams led by Andrew Mitchell from UK (left), built teams led by Andrew Mitchell from UK (left), built

aerial walkways aerial walkways to compare the forest canopy in Panama, Costa Rica,to compare the forest canopy in Panama, Costa Rica,

Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia.

These walkways wereThese walkways were

light-weight and portable.light-weight and portable.

Many canopy walkwaysMany canopy walkways

now exist around thenow exist around the

world, both for science,world, both for science,

education and tourism.education and tourism.

Later, ropes and specialised climbingLater, ropes and specialised climbing

equipment became the mostequipment became the most

popular method of gaining access to thepopular method of gaining access to the

canopy - for research.canopy - for research.

In the 1980’s a

French team, led by

Prof. Francis Hallé

came up with a new

idea.

A hot air balloon and a

raft.

Many people thought

it was crazy!

Professor Francis Hallé, 1980’s

But it worked!

Next Hallé dreamed

of using an airship

This too was a success!

The airship is the largest

hot air balloon in the

world.

Scientists are carried

below in a small raft

from which they

collect specimens across

the canopy.

A pilot flies the airship

which is powered by

a propeller.

Close up balloon and pretzel scan from

geographical

It can carry a much

bigger raft!

Scientists use this like an islandScientists use this like an island

in the tree tops, for in the tree tops, for

1-3 weeks. 1-3 weeks.

The airship can The airship can

move it tmove it to a new place.o a new place.

IKOS Tree House

Also

developed by

the French

Canopy

Consortium

In the 1990’s…

- The Canopy

‘Bubble’.

A helium filled

balloon.

Bubble and net

The ‘bubble’

allows single

researchers to

access the top

of the canopy.

A day’s work for the

biologist and

photographer

Laurent Pyot!

Nice ICOS picThe ‘IKOS’, a kind of

metal tree-house,

is assembled

by researchers in

a tree crown.

Three Scientists can

live there and make

observations.

There is even a small

kitchen.

In 1990

Dr Alan

Smith

dreamed of

putting a crane

into the

rainforest.

A new era

of canopy

exploration

was born!

Alan Smith, right, with

Andrew Mitchell,

testing the first

Smithsonian canopy

crane in Panama.

The ‘gondola’

suspended below the

crane ‘jib’ has made

canopy access safe and

easy for all.

Crane picture from air

helicopter

Ten canopy cranes are now in useTen canopy cranes are now in use

in forests in forests around the world.around the world.

Helicopters are used to put the cranes in.Helicopters are used to put the cranes in.

Sequence of shots with gondola and cooler bag

Equipment can be easily loaded from the ground

Safe

access!

to

1 hectare

of

forest

50 metres up!

COPAS‘Copas’ is being built in

French Guiana.

Scientists are still

creating new

inventions to reach

the canopy.

The

Canopy

Glider

is a new

canopy

exploration

vehicle

to be

tested

by the

Canopy

Consortium.

So what have scientists discovered

about the canopy?

Moths from enchanted canopy

Many new and strange species!

40 taxonomists took part 40 taxonomists took part in this major studyin this major study

of life on earth, in Panama 2004/5. 1 millionof life on earth, in Panama 2004/5. 1 million

specimens have to be identified.specimens have to be identified.

OnOn Project IBISCA Project IBISCA Andreas Andreas FlorenFloren collects insects by fogging collects insects by fogging

tree crowns with tree crowns with ‘‘pyrethrumpyrethrum’’ which only stuns them. They fall to which only stuns them. They fall to

thethe ground. ground. Most wake up and escape, but some are collected andMost wake up and escape, but some are collected and

preserved for study.preserved for study.

Insect boxes

Many canopy insect species have neverMany canopy insect species have never

been seen or been seen or described by scientistsdescribed by scientists

before. before. In some Asian forests it can beIn some Asian forests it can be

70-80% of the catch!70-80% of the catch!

From studies like this, scientists nowFrom studies like this, scientists now

believe that 40% of all terrestrialbelieve that 40% of all terrestrial

biodiversity biodiversity exists in the canopy.exists in the canopy.

Best

global

estimate?

5-15 million

species exist

on earth. The

truth lies in the

canopy.

What about under the soil or sea?

Nobody knows that either!

Weird eyed inesct

Catydid 1/2/ pics

How did evolution

design this species?

The canopy is a

place full of

complexity.

It is a

powerhouse of

interactions

between animals

and plants.

Life and the atmosphere

Clouds and forests / mist water droplets

The Canopy is theThe Canopy is the

primary interfaceprimary interface

between life and thebetween life and the

atmosphere for 90% ofatmosphere for 90% of

the worldthe world’’s livings living

biomass.biomass.

This makes it veryThis makes it very

important forimportant for

understanding how theunderstanding how the

Biosphere interactsBiosphere interacts

with the Atmosphere.with the Atmosphere.

The Amazon isThe Amazon is

probably one of theprobably one of the

worldworld’’s greatests greatest

Biosphere-AtmosphereBiosphere-Atmosphere

Hotspots.Hotspots.

John misty pictures

We have learnedWe have learned

to respect theto respect the

canopy.canopy.

It can be aIt can be a

dangerousdangerous

place place to work,to work,

unlessunless

safe methodssafe methods

are used.are used.

Canopy explorers are pioneers!

Mark Moffett

James

Aldred

Nalini

Nadkarni

It is also a new frontier for discovery!It is also a new frontier for discovery!

An inspires…

the human heart

Balloon and river in Borneo

The forest canopy is The forest canopy is

one of the most beautiful places on earth one of the most beautiful places on earth

to explore.to explore.

Post card sloth

It is full of surprises!It is full of surprises!A three toed sloth high above ground.A three toed sloth high above ground.

Why are Forest Canopies Why are Forest Canopies SoSo Important? Important?

- Pollination services valued at US$12 billion per annum

- Carbon sequestration trading valued at US$3Trillion

- Flowering patterns disrupted by global change

- Flood risk / disease could increase with impacts on canopy

People

Atmosphere

- Influence hydrology and precipitation over 45M

ha of land

- Rising CO2 alters canopy function

- ‘Green ocean clouds’ created by VOC’s may be disrupted

Life

- 40% of species on earth’s surface

- Value to medicine & agriculture unknown

- Destroying canopies alters evolution forever

Source: OZANNE et al. (2003) Biodiversity meets the atmosphere: A global view of forest canopies. SCIENCE 301

Millions of tons

of carbon stored in

wood is

released into the

atmosphere when

trees are burned.

This increases

Global warming.

COCO22Towers like these on the

Large Scale Biological

Assessment (LBA) in the

Amazon measure the

movement (fluxes) of

gases such as carbon

dioxide, oxygen and

water vapour

in and out

of the forest.

Dr Antonio

Nobre, a

researcher at

INPA,

National

Institute for

Amazonian

Research,

takes a

reading from a

gas analyser

on a 55 metre

tower, north

of Manaus.

For over 400,000 years there has been about 240For over 400,000 years there has been about 240

parts per million of CO2 in the earthparts per million of CO2 in the earth’’s atmosphere.s atmosphere.

Today the instrument on this tower is showing it hasToday the instrument on this tower is showing it has

risen to 381 risen to 381 ppmppm..

Much of this is due to emissions from human activity.Much of this is due to emissions from human activity.

Lemuroid Ringtail Possum - BIOCLIM ModelLemuroid Ringtail Possum - BIOCLIM Model

Present + 1 deg.

46%

+ 3.5 deg.

0%

Ref: Williams, SE. (2003) A Report to the Biological Diversity Advisory Committee,

Environment Australia, Canberra

In Queensland, Australia, computer models ofIn Queensland, Australia, computer models of

climate change predict that manyclimate change predict that many

species could species could die out because theirdie out because their

habitat (red colour) may dry out in the nexthabitat (red colour) may dry out in the next

50-80 years.50-80 years...

Could a similar process happen in the Amazon?Could a similar process happen in the Amazon?

A groundbreaking initiative linkingA groundbreaking initiative linking

major studies of forest canopiesmajor studies of forest canopies

addressing biodiversity and climateaddressing biodiversity and climate

change worldwide.change worldwide.

To investigate some of these problems

canopy scientists decided the set up the..

CANOPY

DATABASE

They set out to linkThey set out to link

canopy studiescanopy studies

Worldwide andWorldwide and

create a research plan

The GCP Steering Committee and Focal countries The GCP Steering Committee and Focal countries

• Dr Pierre Charles Dominique,

COPAS, France

• Professor Roger Kitching,

Griffith University, Australia

• Professor Nigel Stork,

James Cook University, Australia

• Dr Tohru Nakashizuka,

Kyoto University, Japan

• Professor Dieter Anhuf,

University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

• Talita Fontoura,

University de Estadual, Brazil

• Dr Joe Wright,

STRI, Smithsonian, Panama

• Andrew Mitchell,

Director, Global Canopy Foundation, UK

• Dr Margaret Lowman,

Marie Selby Botanical Garden, USA

• Dr Nalini Nadkarni,

Evergreen State University, USA

• Professor Cao Min

Xishuangbanna Botanical Garden, China

Madagascar

Brazil

Ghana

India

Malaysia

GCP published its new GCP published its new

20:20 Vision 20:20 Vision

for Canopy for Canopy ScienceScience

in 2003.in 2003.

GCP 20:20 Vision for Canopy ScienceGCP 20:20 Vision for Canopy Science

• Five focal countries: Brazil, Ghana, Madagascar, Malaysia, India

• Targeted research, designed to investigate impact of climate change

on canopy biodiversity using ‘whole forest observatories’.

• Demonstration projects on value of canopy ecotourism and

canopy horticulture for sustainable development of local communities

• Monitoring and early warning assessment network

• Information to key stakeholders including governments

• Phase I - Scoping the project 2001-4

• Phase II - Testing and financing 2005-7

• Phase III - Begin Project Implementation 2008….

Climbing expertise

FCO logo

Darwin

GCP is now GCP is now helping tohelping to

supportsupport

training courses in Brazil,training courses in Brazil,

and other countries.and other countries.

At University of At University of OuroOuro PretoPreto

with funding fromwith funding from

the the BrasilanBrasilan and and

British governments.British governments.

(UK Foreign and Commonwealth(UK Foreign and Commonwealth

Office - Global Opportunities Fund)Office - Global Opportunities Fund)

..and other donors...and other donors.

BCAP Courses

GCP Basic Canopy

Access Proficiency

(BCAP) Courses

enable students and

professionals to learn

modern safe methods

of accessing the

forest canopy.

GCP is also helping toGCP is also helping to

develop canopy ecotourismdevelop canopy ecotourism

to provide sustainableto provide sustainable

development opportunitiesdevelopment opportunities

for local communitiesfor local communities

worldwide.worldwide.

Field Station

Research

Forest Restoration

Capacity Building

Satellite Mapping

Interpretaion Centre

Model for a canopy ecotourismModel for a canopy ecotourism

project planned for Madagascarproject planned for Madagascar

Whole Forest Observatories: a global

network for monitoring canopy

biodiversity and climate change

In 2005 GCP received UN Backing In 2005 GCP received UN Backing

for a major new initiative:for a major new initiative:

Project Partners

GEF Agency - UNEP United Nations Environment Programme

IEA (International Execution Agency)

GCP - UK Global Canopy Programme

Current NEAs (National Execution Agencies)

Brazil - INPA Nat. Inst for Amazonian Res.

Ghana - CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Res.

India - ATREE Ashoka Trust for Res. in Ecol. and the Env.

Madagascar - MICET Madagascar Inst. For Cons. of the Trop. Env.

Malaysia - ITBC Institute for Tropical Biology Conservation.

The Global Canopy Research Network.The Global Canopy Research Network.

Existing Canopy Cranes GCP Proposed new Canopy Cranes

Existing Fluxnet Towers ,

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New UNEP/GCP Whole Forest Observatories

With UNEP, GCP is planning a network of

‘Whole Forest Observatories’ across the tropics.

In Brazil Ghana, India, Malaysia and later China.

A canopy crane will provide accessA canopy crane will provide access

- from leaf tip to root tip - at each Observatory. - from leaf tip to root tip - at each Observatory.

Targeted research, training and communityTargeted research, training and community

development projects will be carried out at eachdevelopment projects will be carried out at each

site and at associated sites.site and at associated sites.

The Budget?

It is a lot of

money.

But…It is less

than half of

what a major

international

footballer gets

paid. Who can

say whose

game has more

value?

How muchHow much

do we valuedo we value

LifeLife

andand our our

Atmosphere..Atmosphere..

for People?for People?

A challengeA challenge

for our future,for our future,

....in the canopyin the canopy

high frontier!high frontier!

www.globalcanopy.org