Afforestation is a process of planting trees in “treeless” environments and Rosetta [Elkin, author ofPlant Life] asks why?

Examining three supracontinental planting projects, and a particular plant in each region that either thrives or dies by human design, each project uncovers a series of common tactics employed to reduce the “aliveness” of plants. Her work describes how plants have been subject to a transition from integrated systems of survival, meaning and necessity to units of profit and standardization in which both the plant and knowledge of the plant are exploited. Rosetta’s research reveals that afforestation is not an ecological practice, but rather a project in repressive, extractive politics.

Leading by example, Rosetta challenges architects, planners and designers to face up to their environmental conceits and engage with the multitude of persistent environmental challenges. At the very least, she asks that we learn the names of the trees we plant.

Watch the lecture at MIT LCAU.