Ronja joins MONA's Forest Economic Congress delegation

Cumulus team member Ronja Scherer, a director of Australian Architects Declare, was recently invited as a delegate to Mona - Museum of Old and New Art's Forest Economic Congress.

The three-day event organised by Kirsha Kaechele brought together 120 delegates, including foresters, economists, activists, and scientists, to reinvigorate discussions through ‘art, science, and radical diplomacy’.

Divided into 11 working groups, delegates delved into topics evaluating the ‘true value’ of Tasmania’s forests; including natural capital, enhanced livelihoods, community and regional development, investment opportunities, land use planning and management, biodiversity protection, culture, and tourism.

Outcomes and disagreements from the (occasionally uncomfortable) discussions were presented during a summative closing ceremony, in which the delegation as a whole could cast votes prioritising the suggestions raised by each group. A key component of which was a First Nations-led approach to native forest management.

MONA hopes to organise further working sessions, viewing the bridge established a seed for further conversations.

Ronja said it was an amazing experience to witness the perspectives of a diverse group of people from all sides of this crucial topic.

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Another Cumulus team member, Ned Daniels, was also engaged as a live digital illustrator throughout the duration of the event; producing drawings seen on images 1 and 2

Images: Jesse Hunniford / Ned Daniels