STARTS MARCH 5, 2025
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Every Wednesday 19:30 GMT
Live via Zoom and Mighty Networks
+ optional hands-on tree planting sessions
at our Tree Rescue Hub in London
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LIVE, ONLINE
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“Since we descend from a common ancestor (the protist) it makes sense that we have evolved to be complimentary. There would be no trees without us, there would be no us without trees.” -- Nic Salazar
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Trees are the foundation of divergence and diversity on this planet. They form the basis of complex life, as they sustain oxygen and carbon levels, the water cycle and the food cycle. But do we really understand how trees behave, how they think and live?​
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This course is designed to give you an understanding of the importance of biodiversity, from the perspective of tree-based ecological thinking.​
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This course is delivered by Nic Salazar and Holly Marsden, with weekly interventions from guardians from each of our seven Tree Rescue Hubs, so you will learn place-specific indigenous knowledge about trees and biodiversity from forest communities in Kenya, Nigeria, Brazil and Chile.
Guardians Courses
"A transformational experience like no other"
Ana MacArthur, New York
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"We love Guardians"
Nikki Beaumont, Cambridge, UK
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"Guardians makes my week. I wake up at 3am every Wednesday to watch it live."
Maria, Auckland, New Zealand/Aotearoa
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Preparation: What is a tree?
Upon registration, you will receive a 10 page course booklet (PDF) introducing you to basic aspects of tree biology and ecology, and how these relate to biodiversity. We will also introduce you to the work of important figures in the study of tree ecology including Suzanne Simard, Peter Wohlleben, Monica Gagliano, Paco Calvo, among others, to prepare you before the start of the course. This resource contains five supplementary videos and a reading list.​
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Session 1: March 5, 2025 19:30 GMT: How do trees think?
Understanding biodiversity from the perspective of tree-based ecological thinking, with Nic Salazar​
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Session 2: March 12 2025 19;30 GMT: What is the extent of tree cover loss and tree extinction?
Biodiversity loss through tree disease and deforestation, with Nic Salazar
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Session 3: March 13, 2025 19:30 GMT
Participant-led session and reflection, led by Holly Marsden
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Session 4: March 19, 2025 19:30 GMT: How do trees reproduce?
Flowering trees: tree sexuality, reproduction and pollination, hands-on tree flower online workshop with Holly Marsden
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Session 5: March 20, 2025 19:30 GMT
Participant-led session and reflection, led by Holly Marsden
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Session 6: March 26, 2025 19:30 GMT: How do trees grow and regenerate?
Understanding seeds and saplings, how to germinate and plant trees, with Nic Salazar
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Session 7: April 2, 2025 19:30 BST: What does a tree mean to you?
Participant-led presentations- participants present a tree from their own community worldwide and share their story.
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Session 8: April 9, 2025 19:30 BST What can indigenous wisdoms teach us about biodiversity?
Understanding biodiversity through indigenous wisdoms, led by Guardians Worldwide
More than one third of the planet's trees are sliding into extinction
"Scientists assessing dangers posed to the world’s trees have revealed that more than a third of species are facing extinction in the wild. The number of threatened trees now outweighs all threatened birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians put together, according to the latest update to the official extinction red list,."
What can we do? To find out why this is happening, how this is affecting biodiversity and how you can help stop this process, do join our next Guardians course, which has been designed to address key questions about tree dieback, tree disease, lack of forest regrowth, and extinction...
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Take Action and learn how to grow your own tree!
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The course will end with a day-long practical session for those who can attend physically (recordings will be made available for those you cannot) of a tree planting workshop at the Tree Rescue Hub in Southeast London, where you will learn about The Great North Wood and the trees that grow there. ​
Our teachers on this journey are:
Nicolas Salazar Sutil
Nic is the founder and director of Guardians Worldwide. He is a Chilean- British community builder, environmentalist, campaigner and advocate. Former Professor at the University of Leeds and former Editor of Minority Rights Groups, Nic is a longstanding defender of indigenous rights and climate justice.
Holly Marsden
Raised with a deep respect and love for trees, flowers, plants and all sentient beings, Holly has spent the past decade celebrating nature in all its beauty, working as a floral designer and horticulturalist. Raised in the countryside, Holly is committed to helping others restore and develop nature relations to help address the climate and biodiversity crisis.
