New toolkit released to boost forest restoration through storytelling
We cannot underestimate the power of storytelling in driving ecological change. Lasting solutions are only possible when society backs the transformation. Stories shape how we think, connect, and act - uniting people and sparking movements. As we confront today's climate challenges, we need a societal shift to make forest restoration and biodiversity conservation more inclusive, open, and effective.
In a bid to drive large-scale forest restoration and biodiversity conservation across Europe, the EU-funded project SUPERB has launched a free, practical toolkit called Forest Storytelling and Engagement for Change. Through a collaboration between the European Forest Institute, King’s College London, and Prospex Institute, the toolkit was developed to empower those living and working with forests to explore how and why storytelling can drive ecological change and enable stronger connections between people and nature.
With special attention to local contexts, the guide was developed with those working in the field in mind. By involving partners implementing forest restoration actions on the ground, the guide uses accessible language and tools, targeting those with limited time and resources with step-by-step guides and practical examples for inspiration.
What does it offer?
Forest Storytelling and Engagement for Change offers five key tools to help anyone interested in:
1. Identifying new/unexpected people around forest sites to engage a much broader range of individuals and groups
2. Understanding the relationships between people and forests to think of how these connections can be strengthened
3. Developing impactful forest stories to connect with diverse communities and highlight the importance of forest restoration
4. Exploring the transformative power of storytelling to understand how storytelling can be used to build stronger communities, foster collaboration, and change cultural attitudes towards forests
5. Understanding different approaches for engaging diverse stakeholders and overcoming conflicts to make forest restoration actions ‘rooted’ in the local space
Who can benefit?
The toolkit is designed for anyone with an interest in the role of forests in shaping a sustainable future, including:
● Forest practitioners to make their restoration actions more inclusive and build local support for their projects
● Community groups to discover different stories about forests in their local area
● Journalists to delve deeper into the importance of the transformation process
● Policymakers to identify blindspots and missing voices for inclusion
How do I get access?
The toolkit can be accessed (free of charge) here.
Full reference
Bounegru, L., Gao, S., Gray, J. W. Y., Horstmann, N., Könen, R., Schifferdecker, G., and Tsubaki, R. 2024 Forest Storytelling and Engagement for Change. A toolkit for effective stakeholder engagement and communication.
