Listening to Soil: Following Svitlana Lavrenciuc from Madagascar to the Amazon

News March 8, 2026

The Soil Values project in Madagascar did not begin with a clearly defined agenda. “It began for me as an encounter,” Svitlana explains. Trained in architecture and spatial design, she arrived with methods and frameworks, but quickly learned that her approach needed to soften. “I very quickly learned to slow down and listen — to people, to gestures, to rituals and to soil itself.” In the communities surrounding Masoala National Park, soil was not treated as inert matter. “It carries memory, ancestry, obligation,” she says. It is touched before planting, spoken to before harvest, and cared for as a living relation rather than a resource. The research process followed this logic. Instead of extractive data collection, it unfolded through walking, sitting, observing, and sharing stories.” Interviews and conversations with local farmers and community members revealed everyday practices — planting rice, preparing fields, performing small rituals — that expressed respect for land and ancestors. Over time, as trust grew, the research took shape collaboratively. “What emerged was not a single definition of soil value, but a plurality of meanings: care, belonging, responsibility, continuity.” For Svitlana, the project reshaped her understanding of what research can be. “I see it as something grown patiently, like soil itself, through presence, reciprocity, and time.” 

A diplomatic setting for Madagascar’s forests: voices meet in Antananarivo

News December 8, 2025

Inside that setting, the dialogue brought together youth leaders from the Changemakers program, researchers from ESSA-Forêts at the University of Antananarivo, and representatives of government and civil society. The panel featured HE Ambassador Stefano Toscano; Mr. Rinah Razafindrabe, Director General for Environmental Governance at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development; Dr Sarobidy Rakotonarivo, researcher and environmental socio-economist; and Mrs Ambinintsoa Ratsitoarison, founder and CEO of Ecococo.  The dialogue also included the participation of Rafanomezantsoa Michaël Manesimana, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, underscoring the conversation’s relevance for national priorities. Moderation by Dr. Ntsiva Andriatsitohaina (Wyss Academy for Nature) and Ms. Rebecca Andrianarisandy (Youth First) guided the exchange from rapid pitches to the panel, linking field experience, research, and policy questions. 

Summary of findings: listening to the forest

Project Update October 21, 2025

Dialogues enabled co-learning and knowledge sharing through facilitated interactions, peer exchange, and iterative reflection. Collaborative mapping, collective sense-making, and knowledge hybridization were recurrent practices. However, tensions emerged where scientific framings dominated, leading to epistemic translation rather than genuine integration. Collective agency emerged through joint decision-making and narrative ownership. In some regions, participants described newfound confidence to advocate for forest governance reforms. Constraints included entrenched institutional hierarchies and lack of post-dialogue continuity. Dialogues partially reconfigured power through deliberate inclusion, agenda co-design, and equitable facilitation. Yet, subtle dynamics persisted: who spoke first, who framed problems, and how time was allocated often reflected pre-existing hierarchies. Participants noted progress in representation but cautioned that inclusion did not always translate to influence. Participants frequently described being influenced by hearing situated experiences of others. Dialogues catalyzed shifts in perception, empathy, and interdependence, particularly when storytelling and grounded examples were used. This influence was strongest when power differentials were acknowledged rather than neutralized. Emerging outcomes included trust-building, initiation of cross-sector collaborations, and continuity of engagement beyond the event. However, relational durability varied: in some cases, connections dissolved due to institutional inertia or project-based timeframes. Where follow-up mechanisms existed, relational gains were sustained. 

The True Value of Forests: Global Synthesis Report

Project Update April 8, 2025

When we set out on the journey to explore the True Value of Forests, we envisioned a global dialogue—a space where diverse voices could come together to reflect on the ecological, economic, social, and cultural importance of forests. What we found along the way was both humbling and inspiring: there is no single, universally accepted “true” value of forests. Instead, forests hold a multitude of meanings that differ across regions, communities, and individuals. Over the course of 2024, the Wyss Academy Dialogues with Purpose brought together more than a hundred stakeholders across four continents—South America, Southeast Asia, East Africa, and Europe—as well as two virtual global sessions. These Dialogues created space for open, respectful exchange, where participants shared perspectives rooted in deeply personal experiences, scientific inquiry, ancestral knowledge, and lived realities. The result was a profound tapestry of forest values: from biodiversity and carbon regulation to food security, cultural identity, spiritual connection, and social cohesion. The Global Synthesis Report brings together the insights and initiatives that emerged from these Dialogues. It reflects a collective effort to better understand how different people relate to forests, and how this understanding can guide more just, inclusive, and sustainable forest governance. As the report shows, many of the solutions are already within reach: they lie in amplifying local voices, empowering community-led action, and acknowledging plural perspectives in shaping forest futures. We are now supporting regional engagement processes that build on the ideas sparked during the Dialogues. In parallel, we are preparing to publish a scientific article on the methodology of the Wyss Academy Dialogues, with the aim of contributing to broader debates on participatory approaches and systems change. This work will be shared at the FLARE Conference in Lima/Peru in October 2025. We as Wyss Academy for Nature, extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in the Dialogues and supported their implementation. Your openness, commitment, and depth of reflection gave meaning to this process. We hope that the synthesis report not only honours your contributions but also helps sustain momentum for action—by continuing the conversation, translating values into strategies, and supporting forest-positive initiatives around the world.

Global Synthesis of the Wyss Academy Dialogues with Purpose

News March 28, 2025

The Forest: ‘A Source of Life for Everyone’

Project Update March 4, 2025

Join the virtual dialogue on the True Value of Forests

News September 26, 2024

With the current wildfires in Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil devastating some of the world’s most critical ecosystems, including the Amazon rainforest, the impact of climate change and its risks for biodiversity is more present than ever. The Wyss Academy Dialogues present a platform for uniting key stakeholders at a regional and global level to discuss and implement stronger, coordinated policies to combat climate change on a global scale. We’re bringing together insights, collective learnings, and co-created initiatives from our gatherings in South America, East Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe to explore how we can collectively realise the True Value of Forests. This virtual event is your chance to be part of a cross-regional movement driving sustainable change for our planet.

East Africa dialogue takeaways

Project Update July 2, 2024

Hazo tokana tsy mba ala, Malagasy for “one tree does not make a forest”, is the perfect summary of the true value of forests: their strength lies in numbers. More trees mean richer ecosystems, habitats, and services. When more people understand and value these forests, they will be more intentional about protecting them or using them sustainably. These were the key takeaways from the East Africa edition of the Wyss Academy Dialogues on the True Value of Forests held in Maroantsetra, Madagascar, on 13–14 June 2024. The event saw 26 participants drawn from government and civil society gather to develop concrete steps toward reforestation, diversified livelihoods, and greater awareness of the importance of forests.Tatjana Von Steiger, Head of Global Policy Outreach at the Wyss Academy, explained: “We want to contextualize the debate by anchoring it in the local context. This way, we can enable various stakeholders to bring in their perspectives—and that’s key to developing a joint vision and exploring novel ideas.”Fusion of past, present and future It is often said that moving forward requires learning from the past, and this is particularly true when developing effective advocacy and behavior change strategies. Strongly held cultural and spiritual beliefs directly impact understanding of, and receptiveness to, scientific or other information connected to the value of forests. This is not to say that previous generations lacked an appreciation for forests. In fact, trees and forests were generally revered and rarely cut down without performing special rituals. For instance, in Maroantsetra, offerings of honey and alcohol were prepared for Zanahary (Malagasy for God) when seeking permission to cut down a tree, and approval came in a dream. The ritual still exists, with a modern condition that the tree be felled using an axe rather than a chain saw. In other parts of Madagascar, it was believed that the spirits of departed loved ones resided in trees and that anyone who cut them down risked being possessed.As time and Christianity gradually weakened these traditions, the value of forests became less protected. Trees were now felled for firewood, construction, food, and medicine, often without ensuring regeneration. The present reality of forests is to provide sustenance, and this comes with its own set of challenges. Soil erosion, reduced agricultural productivity, pollution, and loss of cultural practices are some of the notable consequences of this shift.So, what does this mean for the future of forests in Madagascar? Finding a balance between the two extremes of rigorous protection and use is critical. While this is easier said than done, it is certainly possible. For starters, a clear governance policy on environmental and forest protection must be developed and strictly enforced. This should quickly be followed by intensive public awareness activities, to ensure that local communities are properly educated on conservation and sustainable management of forests.

Europe dialogue takeaways

Project Update June 6, 2024

What exactly makes forests truly valuable? How can their potential be used to address the needs of human beings and nature to an equal degree? And, more specifically, how should the Swiss Energy Policy 2050 be coordinated with forest conservation? These and other questions were discussed intensively on the 4th and 5th of June 2024 on the occasion of the Dialogue with Purpose on the topic of "The True Value of Forests" held in the Emmental valley of the Swiss Canton of Bern. In response to an invitation from the Wyss Academy for Nature and the Office for Forestry and Natural Hazards of the Canton of Bern, around 35 experts and representatives of civil society, enterprise, science, politics, administration and  arts met for this purpose in Hünigen Castle and in Toppwald forest.32 per cent of Switzerland’s national territory, which is equivalent to approx. 13,000 square kilometres, consists of forest – an area shared by 250,000 private and 3,400 public forest owners. It is obvious that not every stakeholder will share the same perception with regard to the significance and usage of forests. The aim of this dialogue was to openly address different positions and current problems and to develop initial approaches to solutions together.Integrated land use systems are neededThe morning of the first day focused on 'Integrated land use systems for renewable energy in the forest environment'. Disputes regarding land use have intensified over the years in Switzerland. The reason is that, on the one hand, the demands made on land for nature, cultural and water conservation have grown and, on the other, the spread of settlement and traffic infrastructure areas was hitherto only inhibited to a moderate degree. This area of tension was also reflected in the enthusiastic debate regarding Energy Policy 2050. For example, given the need for wind turbines, the strict Swiss ban on forest clearance will probably come under increased pressure. Sustainable utilisation of woodThe afternoon then saw those attending enjoying the forest at first hand. An extended tour in the beautiful Toppwald forest offered the dialogue participants instructive insights into the sustainable utilisation of wood by the state forest service of the Canton of Bern, an approach that, in addition to woodcutting, also includes measures aimed at forest rejuvenation and benefiting nature conservation. What is envisaged in the long term is an even balance sheet with regard to timber, but a long road still needs to be travelled before this goal is achieved. Investigations conducted by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) indicate that more forest wood could be used economically than has been the case to date. However, increased exploitation does not reflect the real situation in forestry. Reasons include the trade in CO2 certificates, unprofitable timber production, opposition to the utilisation of wood and the expansion of forest reserves where the use of wood is largely prohibited.Diverse interests associated with the public forestIn addition to sector-specific interests, however, numerous other societal demands need to be taken into consideration today where the public forest is concerned. The participants started with this topic on the second day. From the jogger to the botanist and the ornithologist to the forest kindergarten employee, to mention a few, all of these are involved in using this resource and have specific and, in part, diverging ideas on how their natural powerhouse should be provided. As a consequence, foresters find themselves increasingly involved as mediators in conflicts over forest use. The fact that some interest groups are better organised and more articulate than others in expressing their involvement does not always benefit the entire population.Developing initial approaches to solutionsThe creation of an overview of these diverse and complex problems took some time. This was followed by the development and presentation of concrete solutions. These ranged from new business models for the timber industry, a therapeutic forest for a hospital and an awareness campaign for the forest to a marketplace for biodiversity credits, just to name a few. The fact that the ideas in the co-design process were created in part by small groups with a very heterogeneous composition made them much more likely to endure. And the fact that, following the official conclusion of the dialogue, individual participants got together to further develop their project ideas was a powerful signal that gives cause for optimism.🌍 The Wyss Academy "The True Value of Forests” dialogues, which are a cooperation with our partner, Impact Hub Network , are a series of global events which aim to encourage the exchange of local solutions that promote the value of the forest and to initiate concrete measures. The prelude occurred at the beginning of May in the Brazilian city of Manaus in the Amazonas region. Following the second event, which was held last week in Thailand, the dialogues from the 4th and 5th of June in the Emmental valley represented the third event. The conclusion of the regional series is planned from the 10th to the 17th of June in Madagascar. A global event planned for the second half of 2024 will gather findings from the different regions and contribute to the identification of commonalities shared by all and, also, the special characteristics and features of forests.

Southeast Asia dialogue takeaways

Project Update June 4, 2024

In Southeast Asia, the true value of forests is multilayered and multifaceted. On 30–31 May 2024, close to 60 participants from Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam came together in Nan province, Thailand, to participate in a dialogue on the significance of forests. This Southeast Asia event, part of the global series of Wyss Academy Dialogues on the True Value of Forests, created a safe space for diverse perspectives to be shared and heard. It underscored the importance of the region’s forests to its people and shone a light on the shared values individuals and communities across the world ascribe to their forests.Traversing the Amazon, Southeast Asia, Europe and now Africa over the course of a few weeks, the Wyss Academy Dialogues have been about sharing, listening and learning. “We need to build bridges and break silos, and these dialogues are meant to create safe spaces for different sectors to come together,” said Tatjana von Steiger, Head of Global Policy Outreach at the Wyss Academy as she addressed the Southeast Asia dialogue attendees on the first day of the event.The profound connection local communities have with their forests was repeatedly highlighted over the course of the two-day dialogue – during group interactions and exercises, and a visit to the field in Santisuk district, where a nature-based solution site is being piloted as part of the Trees4All project. Participants often referred to the forest as their “mother” and “provider” as well as their “bank” and “supermarket”. It became clear that forests are not just seen as a source of livelihood, but as an integral part of cultural heritage.