THE MOTH ASSEMBLY AND REFORESTATION FORUM

by Gabrielle Bucknall

The project is centred on the endangered birch forests of northern Norway, recently affected by instances of ‘invasive’ moth species. Moths and larave are dispersed through the trees by wind, eating the birch leaves, and ultimately destroying them. The future is bleak for the forests, as increasing temperatures, due to climate change, encourage these moths to thrive. Typically, moths are regarded ‘pests’, however, this project attempts to question this, given that this problem is arguably the result of humans. The project imagines an alternative, ideal world which balances the needs of humans, trees and moths, providing places in which they can coexist. A series of architectural interventions linked by a new reforestation trail, allow visitors to engage with these lifecycles and replant the damaged forest, whilst the Forum grows and decays through the seasons, harbouring life and forming a place to evolve strategies for saving the forest for future generations.