Activists, lawyers, a scientist, and a forest manager invited the public to experience the forest in and around the installation Assembly of Trees in a new way and reflect on the relationship between humans and nature. Five workshops focused on the following themes: the rights-for-nature movement, local forest management, the concept of rewilding, and nature inclusion and social equity in the fight against climate change. The workshops provided verbal and non-verbal input to The Forest Speaks; fundamental principles of the forest. This manifesto focuses on a new fundamental attitude based on the intrinsic values of the forest. 

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What will the forest look like in 2122? In this workshop, Hougee made visitors temporary (co)managers of the multifunctional forest on Terschelling. He invited participants to choose trees for the future forest based on their own insights and the forester’s knowledge. What does forest management say about the values the forest represents? 

Remi Hougee is a forester for the Forestry Commission on Terschelling.

In this workshop, Koen Arts encouraged participants to discover new perspectives on the forest through sensory observations. What values can you attribute to the forest and how can you expand the way you experience the forest?

Koen Arts is a professor at Wageningen University & Research, nature explorer, and a writer. He explores the relationship between humans and nature in word and deed.

How can a decolonial practice make the relationship between humans and forests better? What does resistance to the expropriation of common property look like? Oxygenators and oxygen suckers came together to listen to the dreams and interests of the forest, to meditate, for (historical) reflection and a poetic group exercise.

Chihiro Geuzebroek is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, organizer, and trainer in decolonial climate justice, perspectives, and practices.

Raki Ap’s workshop focused on the Green State Vision. How can West Papuans’ indigenous knowledge and way of life provide the basis for an independent state? And what values can be distilled from this in relation to the forest on Terschelling?  

Raki Ap is a spokesperson for the Free West Papua Campaign, fighting for an independent West Papua and its indigenous ways of life.

What is it like to speak on behalf of the forest? In this Rights for Nature workshop, participants experimented with representing nature. Through dialogue, participants identified core values with Den Outer that would allow the forest to be represented in a court of law.

Jessica den Outer is a lawyer, writer, and speaker on Rights for Nature. She is part of the United Nations Harmony with Nature Network as an Earth-centred Law Expert.