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Technology Allows Trees in Parque Forestal to "Speak"

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• Visitors can now listen to the "sound" of trees, including a majestic Cedar of Lebanon, through an innovative app.

A Cedar of Lebanon, with its distinctive rough, scaly gray bark and needle-like leaves, stands at the center of the park and has been integrated into a groundbreaking digital experience. The app forestal.arbolesciudadanos.cl allows users to discover the park’s trees, listen to their unique sounds, and learn about their history and ecological roles.

“To experience this, simply access the app from your phone, and a map will display all the trees included in this initiative,” explain the app’s developers. As users approach each tree, they can hear its distinct sound and access information about its environmental benefits.

The app aims to raise awareness about the importance of trees in urban ecosystems. “They keep rivers clean, beautify our surroundings, lower ground temperatures, provide shelter for living beings, and capture carbon,” the developers note. This educational experience aligns with the urgent need for forest protection and restoration amid concerning global and local trends.

The Importance of Trees
In 2023, the planet lost 3.7 million hectares of primary forests—equivalent to ten soccer fields per minute—according to the World Resources Institute. In Chile, an estimated 25,000 hectares of forests are lost annually, primarily due to logging, productive activities, and natural disasters, per MapBiomas data.

Additionally, urban expansion has grown by 33% over the past 22 years, now covering 510,000 hectares of Chile. This growth underscores the need for effective strategies to restore trees and forests in urban areas.

Research by the University of Chile in Chiloé highlights the carbon-capturing value of forests. “The island’s forests retain up to 18 tons of carbon per hectare annually, surpassing the Amazon’s capabilities,” researchers state. This capacity emphasizes the importance of reforestation and protecting key species for climate change mitigation and ecosystem conservation.

The sound of the Cedar of Lebanon in Parque Forestal is not just a sensory experience but also a call to action to protect and restore urban and natural forests—essential for the planet’s health and human well-being.