A pause before the next beginning

Sunsetting whilst cone picking Larix (Larch) in Germany 2024

Big Canopy Campout took the foot off the accelerator in 2024. This is surprisingly uncommon in the western world of work ethics where growth and achievement are fuelled by the idea that ‘more’ and ‘bigger’ is considered the foundation of success. Yet, as anyone who has worked towards something of a longterm or faraway goal knows, rest is as important a part of the process as the activities involved. 2024 was our first year not running the online shop and with no official campout going ahead. Rest allowed for reflection and the time to revisit everything in the past years. Just as the final week between Christmas and New Year comes to an end to bring in the new year we have used this time to gather thoughts, resources and energy for the next chapter of BCC. Here are some of the highlights from 2024 and we look forward to sharing more details of plans for 2025 in the new year!

2024 Highlights

At the beginning of 2024, the BCC team attended the Augsburg Baumpflegetage.  As well as running a stall at the Seiltechnik Hannover stand, we were given a time slot to premiere our documentary, with an accompanying speech from Vicki, which provided us an opportunity to share with our sponsors and the tree climbing community what last year’s expedition was all about.  Since then Vicki has presented our documentary at the Baumschnack Tree Conference in Hamburg, a fantastic independent tree care conference organised by Dr. Lena Zühlke, co-founder of Arbor Analyst.  We were delighted at the opportunity to once again connect with tree climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, and the generosity of the attendees and speakers resulted in a donation of €950 to go towards the ongoing efforts of the Siekopai.

Outside of the tree climbing world, Climbing Through Cultures with Siekoya Remolino has been met with great success amongst various film festivals around the world.  So far we have been selected for screening at: Inheritance Festival in the UK, Inkafest in Peru, Quotes From the Earth festival in India and Ekotopfilm in Slovakia, as well as being nominated for the VIANATUR Environmental Film Festival in Spain.  The positive reception towards our documentary has been incredibly motivating, and a meaningful step in bringing the story of the Siekopai to an international audience who may not be familiar with the work of BCC or the SËRA Foundation.  Next year we plan to release the documentary online for public viewing with some extra behind the scenes content to give an insight into the BCC expedition for anyone who hasn’t been able to attend any of these events.

Kёnapu’tiyo

The members of the community who took part in BCC’s tree climbing workshop have been progressing in leaps and bounds since last year’s expedition.  Their enthusiasm for climbing, and the sustainable harvesting opportunities which this facilitates, has bolstered their knowledge and while the techniques introduced to the Siekopai by the BCC expedition team form the core of how the climbers now access the canopy, their skills and familiarity with the equipment now surpasses what was taught to them during last year’s workshop.  By using these techniques in a variety of locations around their territory they have become well versed in safe access to the canopy, learning to problem solve and adapt when necessary. 

There has been a pronounced interest amongst the Siekoya Remolino to connect with other indigenous tree climbers.  Through their networking, they have made connections with other communities who have had some experience of modern tree climbing techniques and who, like the Siekoya, see value in establishing a sustainable model of agroforestry within their territories.  This shared interest in exploring sustainable harvesting techniques through tree climbing has brought about the creation of an indigenous climbing group called Kёnapu’tiyo. 

The group, now firmly established and organised, endeavours to utilise their climbing knowledge to integrate sustainable agroforestry into their communities as a reliable source of income.  Many indigenous groups in the Amazon face similar financial challenges to that of the Siekopai, and the jungle itself faces perpetual threats posed by extractive industries, and it is for these reasons that indigenous-led initiatives such as this are of vital importance.  Kёnapu’tiyo is in a prime position to do just this, taking opportunities to provide a consistent income for their communities from the abundant flora of their land, whilst also protecting the precious ecosystems that exist there.   Kёnapu’tiyo has grown in size since its conception earlier this year, and has seen great success in organising meet-ups and skill-sharing workshops.  Over time it is hoped that the group becomes a trusted source of knowledge in the area, and that when skills are passed down to the next generation the knowledge will not only come from a reputable and well-practiced source, but it will also be taught in a way that ensures future generations will continue to uphold indigenous values and respect for the forest.

Laboratory Progress

The members of the community involved in the laboratory work have been speaking with experts and consultants, and even visiting an operational laboratory in Salinas to get an insight into how a small-scale, commercial laboratory operates in a safe and hygienic way.  Juan has been a continual help to the community, providing advice and contacts to help the Siekopai prepare for the building, and subsequent running, of their rainforest lab.  Opportunities have come up, also, to train members of the community thanks to the generosity of an Ecuadorian company, Salinerito.  Maricela, an incredibly proactive member of the Siekoya Remolino community and a leading voice in the SËRA Foundation, has been granted leadership over the decisions regarding the laboratory, and will be deciding who is best suited for the training that Salinerito will be providing.

BCC plans to step into 2025 reinvigorated, with the groundwork in place for some exciting new developments.  More will be announced as it comes to fruition, but we are very excited about a return to fundraising and the return of our annual campout event, once again raising awareness of the existential threats facing forests throughout the world, as well as the communities who call these places their home.  The public release of our documentary is something we look forward to with anticipation, as is the prospect of a new charity to focus our fundraising efforts behind. 

This year has been an excellent opportunity for us to focus our attention on the future of BCC, and we can’t wait to connect with you all again in the New Year. Wishing everyone a smooth and peaceful start to 2025. See you in the trees…..

BCC Team

See everyone in the trees next year!!