Ecologist to give talk on interpreting the landscape

Ecologist and author Thomas Wessels will give a talk titled "Reading the Forested Landscape" at Skidmore on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. in Filene Recital Hall. The event is open to the public free of charge.

Drawing on his book Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England, Wessels will introduce approaches that can be used to interpret a forest's history while wandering through it.

"It is wonderful to know nature through one-on-one encounters with other organisms, but it is perhaps more empowering to gain a fuller understanding of the patterns that have shaped its landscapes," said Wessels. "Through some knowledge of history and the broader view of seeing a forest and not just its trees, we begin to see the forces that shape a place. This new way of seeing creates reverence, respect, a sense of inclusion and accountability."

Added the author, "For those interested in enhancing their sense of place, I know of no better way than becoming intimately acquainted with their local forests and the fascinating stories they tell."

Wessels is founding director of the master's degree program in conservation biology at Antioch University New England. He is the current chair of the Center for Whole Communities, which fosters inclusive communities where all people?regardless of income, race, or background?have access to and a healthy relationship with land. He helped draft green certification guidelines for forest operations in the northeastern United States and Canada.

Wessels has conducted workshops throughout the United States for over 30 years. His books include The Granite Landscape, Untamed Vermont, The Myth of Progress, and Forest Forensics: A Field Guide to Reading the Forested Landscape.

The event is sponsored by Sustainable Skidmore and the College's Environmental Studies Program.