Gethin Davies: Restoring the Celtic Rainforest with Community and Technology

In this episode of Smart Forest Radio, we are in conversation with Gethin Davies, senior project manager at Celtic Rainforest Wales, about efforts to restore temperate rainforests across four Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Wales. Gethin discusses how the initiative is using technologies, such as drones, LiDAR, electric collars, and the INNS (Invasive Non-Native Species) Mapper app, to monitor and manage these habitats, while noting their limitations alongside the continued importance of people on the ground. He explains two complementary monitoring strands: a socioeconomic assessment and an ecosystem benefits survey. The conversation further touches on community engagement activities and the role of Welsh folklore and language in connecting people to the land.

Interviewers: Jennifer Gabrys and Phoebe Hamilton Jones

Producer: Harry Murdoch

Image: Celtic Rainforests Wales