Figure 15 Process of Panarchy - Adaptive Cycle diagram (1986); temporal changes in a system proceed through phases of growth ®, conservation (k), release (Ω) and reorganisation (α), The adaptive cycle is an effective model for systems, the levels in a panarchy, and the dynamics of individual systems. Source: Garmestani et al. (2009)
Chapter 3: "Librettising" ecology to create Lipote: An Interconnected Journey
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Context of the Research and Influences
3.3 Synopsis
3.4 Developing the Script
3.4.a Communication: Influence from the Science
3.4.b Exploring Different Worlds: Panarchy and Adaptive
3.4.c Soil
3.4.d The Fungal Network
3.4.e The Narrator
3.4.f The Humans
3.4.g The Rainforest
i. A Framework for the Rainforest
iii. Exploring the Rainforest through Cycles of Collaboration
3.4.h The Palm Tree Plantation
3.4.i Lipote as the Loner Tree and the "Fiery Edge"
3.4.j The Strangler Fig
3.4.k The Forest Garden (or Taungya) and the Marriage
3.6 Future Steps and Conclusion
3.4.b Exploring Different Worlds: Panarchy and Adaptive Systems as Narrative Structure
In the conversation with Dr Eichhorn, he stressed that trees do not form communities and would only have “awareness” of those in very close proximity. However, if we consider the forest as a whole system then we can see that it does also act as a larger group including the trees. Perhaps Dr Eichhorn was more concerned that we might associate human community group behaviours and agency to trees, almost over-romanticising their state of being where there is no evidence that they have such abilities, but in the context of this work I believe it is valid to characterise trees and their larger groups/systems in this way. It enables us to explore the emotional connections we might hold with the way these forest systems exist as a whole, as well as how the trees exist on an individual level. And it is important to encourage people to empathise and feel engaged with trees and forestry systems which exist all over the world, as our daily choices do impact their existence.
In a recent 2020 paper (Ibarra et. al) including Suzanne Simard as a named collaborator, it was suggested that forests can have a kind of system identity, or system state, which is able to mitigate against environmental alterations. This particular paper states there is a nest web, with a panarchy of adaptive nested cycles which will enable a forest system to maintain its equilibrium. This concept of panarchy has been used to describe processes which relate to the ecological resilience of systems, as well as how this type of organisation and process is seen in human systems (Garmestani et al., 2009). It was coined by Gunderson and Holling who expressed its meaning as follows:
Its essential focus is to rationalize the interplay between change and persistence, between the predictable and unpredictable. Thus, we drew upon the Greek god, Pan, to capture an image of unpredictable change and upon notions of hierarchies across scales to represent structures that sustain experiments, test results, and allow adaptive evolution. (2002: 5)
The connection between ecological and societal systems, when viewed through this approach, encouraged me to look further into panarchy and validated choices made during the creation of the narrative. In the Garmestani et al. paper they discuss different reasons for forests to engage in an adaptive cycle stating:
The interaction of variables, e.g., drought, lightning strikes, and fuel accumulations, leads to phases of release such as forest fires, followed by periods of reorganization and regrowth. It is at the stage of reorganization that the system can shift regimes into a new or different configuration. (2009: online)
Figure 15 taken from Garmestani et al. (2009) shows Holling’s model of an adaptive cycle. The whole narrative can be described within the stages of release, reorganisation, growth and conservation seen in the cycle. The release occurs in scene 1 as the Rainforest is hit by a series of devastating lightning strikes. This is described by Lipote to the Strangler Fig in scene 5 (p. 15, lines 355-360):
Lipote:
I have travelled carrying the voice of my home.
The fire that rages in the skies,
Strikes us
A deadly snap.
The wastes of the storm left scattered and burnt
Searching for help in the soil.
The Rainforest actively seeks to reorganise in scene 3, sending out signals and alarms, passing resources through the mycorrhizal network, until the Lipote tree steps forward to help. The fungal network, and the Lipote tree, then grow outwards toward surrounding lands in scenes 4-6, prefaced by Lipote’s declaration of their mission at the end of scene 3 (p. 9, lines 207-211):
Lipote: With intractable resolve,
And the thrumming of my clan,
I will push towards the white noise,
Invade the shell-shocked land.
Hairs erect, -
Lipote + Whole Forest:
- ready to inspect!
In scene 6 and scene 7 the Rainforest conserves resources from the Forest Garden, and reflects on all of the information it has gathered in the Song of New Knowledge which I will discuss further in 3.5.h.
It is important to look at the environment and other systems surrounding a forest when considering its health and adaptive abilities, as the adaptive cycle will not be occurring in isolation. This encouraged me to look further afield to other types of systems for Lipote to encounter that might be surrounding a rainforest, and could have a strong impact on its health. For example, when considering the health of rainforests surrounded by plantation, it is of no surprise that the implementation of a monoculture on the border of a diverse system would have a deleterious effect on the resilience of that system (Fleiss et al., 2020). For this reason the Rainforest in this piece does not have the resources to recover on its own.
The two key panarchy transitions which can move a system forward and away from a state of collapse are revolt and remember (Greenlees & Cornelius, 2021). The revolt would account for a series of small fast actions which would overcome a larger slower action. This was the initial route the story would have taken, focusing on the idea of rebellion in the palm plantation. However, after having spoken to Prof. Newton and changing this narrative outcome (explained in 3.4.e), I dug deeper into exploring memory. An example of memory would be the tendency for a forest to put pressure on a burnt patch to return to the state it was in prior to burning, with the same ecological organisation and systems. Lipote’s journey out into the Palm Tree Plantation, and the constant reference to memories lost in the soil during the script, are reflective of this push away from collapse in the Rainforest through the panarchic transitions of revolt and remember. The revolt is present in the action of growing outwards into the plantation and beyond. This action when repeated by many trees on the edge of the rainforest was suggested by Dr Eichhorn to be a likely outcome of creating an edge due to the potential for other nutrients in the deforested land and was a good confirmation of the decision for Lipote to reach for help outside of the Rainforest. This is referenced in the libretto in scene 3 when Lipote volunteers to help saying (p. 8, line 184): 'Yet, recently I felt enriched nourishment. / The other side has a source.'
This ‘revolt’ and ‘remember’ transition, enacted by the growth outwards to regain balance within the rainforest system. The peak of this growth occurs in scene 6 when the Lipote connects with the Forest Garden. In particular this occurs in direct revolt of the deforestation that happens in the second half of the scene, when the Lipote says (p. 20, line 509): We’ll fuse further, / Our networks making matted earth. / Your wisdom shared with us, / We shall retain your worth. It is also highlighted in the final chorus sung by the Rainforest (scene 7, p. 25, lines 611-621):
Our interconnected humus
Has penetrated the fiery edge
And shall always spread.
Track paths through stolen soils,
Make knowledge in the earth.
Reform destroyed memories.
In this moment we break the fourth wall and directly address the audience whilst also connecting ourselves to the other human participants in the production (Leon Trimble and Oliver Farrow). The Rainforest acknowledges the interconnection between them and the humans, now they are in need of help and management: We will offer you our help, / Make space in this home, / And marry our lives to yours. (p. 25, lines 619-621). This final statement brings the natural and man-made systems together, and is intended to pull the audience closer to the story of Lipote's journey.