About Nature Creative Commons
Advocating for Forest and Climate Resilience
Nature Creative Commons is a collaborative initiative bringing together ecologists, data scientists, artists, designers, and communicators to create accessible, visually engaging resources that address forest carbon misinformation and promote sustainable forest stewardship, primarily in British Columbia, Canada.
With climate change discussions often focused on fossil fuel emissions, the impacts of industrial forestry are still shrouded in misinformation, much of it propagated by industry lobbyists. In response our initiative leverages diverse skill sets to produce open-source communications materials, including infographics, data comics, videos, presentations, and publications. These resources aim to support communities, advocacy groups, and policymakers in understanding the critical role intact forests play in mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity. We collaborate with First Nations, NGO’s, independent scientists and Community Forests among others.
As British Columbia’s globally significant forests face ongoing threats due to mismanagement, this initiative provides necessary resources to enable informed, sustainable decisions about ecological stewardship.
- Great Bear Rainforest. By Briony Penn.
- Use with Full Credit, Logo & Licensing. See our Terms & Nature Creative Commons Licenses.
Who, What & Why
Supporting Ecological Literacies
Nature Creative Commons is produced by members of the Hummingbird Collective, a group dedicated to countering misleading narratives that suggest industrial forestry is carbon neutral and ‘good for the climate’. By debunking faulty carbon accounting and highlighting the importance of intact forests, Nature Creative Commons aims to inspire public advocacy, strengthen environmental stewardship and share educational resources to empower communities. Learn more about us on our Team page.
Forestry Myth-Busting
Debunking Forestry Misinformation
There is misinformation being created and perpetuated by industrial forestry that is creating confusion for many communities most affected by forestry. Nature Creative Commons has developed several free resources to tackle this issue. A new video on the role of forest carbon, a PDF primer on Forest Carbon sequestration, a myth-busting series and more! All available on our Forest Carbon page.
Forest Carbon Video
Logging and replacing forests with young plantations creates a carbon deficit, undermining climate goals. Learn how in our video.
The Importance of Old Intact Forests
Old forests are crucial for long-term carbon sequestration and storage, making them irreplaceable in climate regulation.
Intact old forests play a key role in biodiversity preservation, supporting diverse ecosystems and species.
Harvested Wood Products
Current research suggests that a upper-end estimate for the amount of HWP that gets successfully stored long-term is around 17% of the timber that comes from the mill. This means the majority of carbon harvested from a young plantation makes its way into the atmosphere within a relatively short time due to the higher rate of forest harvest.
Nearshore. Briony Penn. Created in Collaboration with Conservation Decisions Lab, UBC.
Collaborations
The work we do would not be possible without a wide network of experts with whom we work collaboratively. We prioritize collaboration with local communities, Indigenous partners and NGO’s to foster sustainable forest management practices that respect cultural and ecological values. We are open to working with groups with aligned goals and values for the purposes of education and the protection of a healthy climate.
Community Engagement
We work closely with local communities to develop ecological communications strategies that integrate traditional knowledge and modern ecological science.
First Nations Collaborations
We partner with First Nations communities and groups to bridge ideas, respect cultural values, and promote ecological sustainability.
Educational Outreach
Through art, media, workshops and resources, we aim to empower communities to take active roles in protecting local ecosystems.
Mentorship, Knowledge-Sharing & Co-Creation
The Hummingbird Collective is a collaborative initiative focused on creating resources that highlight the climate benefits of intact forests and the risks of unsustainable forestry practices. Through partnerships with local communities and learning hubs, the Collective aims to inspire public advocacy, strengthen stewardship, and inform decision-making on forest management.
- Coastal old growth forest in British Columbia. By Sachia Kron.
- Use with Full Credit, Logo & Licensing. See our Terms & Nature Creative Commons Licenses.
Collaborate with a network of artists, scientists, and communicators dedicated to protecting biodiversity and addressing the climate crisis through creative, open-source solutions.