Footage of Felling

There were mixed feelings when 19 trees were felled in our plots in Gabon. 

On one hand, it was a huge step forward for the experiment, and meant we could start to collect the post-logging data that will be so crucial to detecting forest change from satellite images. At the same time, though, it was terrifying and saddening to see these huge, beautiful trees come tumbling down. Trees that we had measured and visited many times and gotten to know. It was certainly a moment to reflect on the meaning and scale of our research.

For the record: the logging itself was done by professionals from Rougier Gabon- an FSC certified logging company, and the footage of the felling was taken with a tripod while we got ourselves to a safe position.