/R E P E A T -- The Space for Life welcomes botanist and activist Francis Hallé/

"Advocacy for the Tree"

MONTREAL, June 6, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Montréal Space for Life is pleased to welcome prominent botanist Francis Hallé as part of its Lecture Series. Entitled Plaidoyer pour l'arbre [Advocacy for the Tree], Mr. Hallé's talk will take place in the Botanical Garden's auditorium on June 13, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.

The Space for Life also announces the opening of the Montréal Botanical Garden's new Arboretum interpretation trail on June 14, 2013, at 10 a.m. Dedicated to exploring the many facets of trees, this trail was inspired in part by the work of internationally renowned botanist Francis Hallé, who will be the guest of honour at the opening.

Trees as living beings
"Nobody has exclusive ownership of trees. Trees deserve to be recognized as a common heritage of humankind, whose knowledge must be collective." ¹ During his talk, Francis Hallé will describe some of the amazing feats of the giant plants we call trees—their biochemical and genetic marvels, their ability to communicate with one another, and their sensitivity to the moon's phases and variations in the earth's magnetic field. He will also broach topics such as trees in urban environments and how they are essential to the lives of humans.

Francis Hallé: Botanist and activist
"The first forests on Earth appeared some 380 million years ago […] and in the space of just a century, humans are on the brink of eradicating them!" ² As a co-founder of the famous Radeau des Cimes canopy raft and leader of its expeditions until 2001, Francis Hallé has specialized in studying the architecture of vascular plants and has dedicated his life to researching tropical plants, particularly low-altitude rain forests. He has furthermore carried out eight missions to study the canopy of equatorial forests.  In addition to authoring 18 books—including the popular Plaidoyer pour l'arbre [Advocacy for the Tree] published in 2005—in 2012, Francis Hallé also contributed to the film by Luc Jacquet entitled Il était une forêt [Once Upon a Forest], which was submitted to the 2013 Cannes Festival jury. Mr. Hallé has received numerous honours and distinctions, including the David Fairchild Medal for Plant Exploration for his work in tropical botany.

Francis Hallé's talk will be followed by a Q&A session and a signing.

Mr. Hallé's lecture is made possible with the support of the Service de Coopération et d'Action Culturelle of the Consulate General of France in Québec.

The Montréal Space for Life is the world's first ever site dedicated to both human beings and nature. It includes the Biodôme, Insectarium, Botanical Garden and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. Together, they are committed to preserving and enhancing biodiversity, and call on citizens locally and around the world to join this bold and creative urban movement.

Where: Henry-Teuscher Auditorium, Montréal Botanical Garden
4101 rue Sherbrooke Est
Pie-IX metro When: Thursday, June 13, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
To purchase tickets online: http://espacepourlavie.ca/en/ticket-office
Admission: Regular: $12 / Students and friends of Space for Life institutions: $9*
*Holders of reduced-rate tickets will be required to show a valid membership card and photo ID at the door.

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¹ Francis Hallé, Plaidoyer pour l'arbre, Éd. Actes Sud, Arles, 2005, 211 p. (quote translated from French)

² Francis Hallé dans Forêts Magazines, no 17, p. 10 (quote translated from French)

SOURCE: The Space for Life

Diane Pinard, Communications Coordinator
The Space for Life
514-872-5028
[email protected]