Description Three regional experts in forest ecology discuss the vital role that forests play for us and for the planet and their complexity as systems. This panel discussion was co-sponsored by the Hanover Conservation Commission/Biodiversity Committee, the Howe Library, and numerous community partners, and took place at the Howe Library in Hanover, NH on April 18, 2024. This is the first of three programs about fostering biodiversity in northern New England forests. Panel: Joseph Tumber-Dávila, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Dartmouth College; Ethan Tapper, Chittenden County Forester; and Katharine Servidio, Forest Economy Program Manager for VT. Moderator: Meg Sheehan, Lyme Conservation Commission