In this special presentation, Rachel Lee Hall of Forest Under Stress captures what she calls the forest’s “breathing system”—the cycle of sunlight, air, and moisture that sustains life on the forest floor.
The images in this presentation tell the story of forests losing their ability to breathe under decades of overcrowding, and how science-based management can restore balance. This is a story of light, renewal, and the urgent need to act before it is too late. The video version of her presentation can be viewed below. It is also available for download here.
Rachel has observed and surveyed the terrain of Oregon’s Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest for the past 45 years, while hunting, hiking, and foraging for mushrooms. Over that time, she has witnessed changes in soil profiles and the effects of passive forest management, which have burdened the forest floor with excessive vegetation and competition. The result is a forest in decline, struggling for sunlight, nutrients, minerals, air flow, and the essential element that sustains the entire ecosystem: moisture.
In 2023, she documented her work in an award-winning video titled “Forest Under Stress,” receiving 42 International recognitions and awards for Short Documentary.
