*Listen to the audio documentary below or
read the transcript (PDF, 123 KB)

When it comes to detecting tree disease, observation is essential. And Martin MacKenzie – a forest pathologist with the USDA Forest Service in California – is a professional observer. For over 55 years, he has devoted himself to detecting the subtle symptoms of diseases that either kill or weaken trees.

Martin’s practice of noticing what is often overlooked is vital for forest health, but it teaches us about human wellness too. In our age of distraction, observation returns us to the rest that can be found within undivided attention. Observation allows us to notice signs of change. Whether beneficial or detrimental change is what gives color and contour to our well-being.

For a visit to the Stanislaus National Forest, a boots-on-the-ground exploration of tree disease, and an invitation to reclaim the practice of observation in our daily lives, listen to the audio documentary.