The voice of the trees, between science and fantasy

Speaker Antonio Brunori; dialogue with Alessio Vissani

The importance of nature in the world of the Middle-earth is a well-researched subject. Tolkien's own proximity to the British hills and countryside gave the famous author the opportunity to include the nature element not as a background but as a protagonist. One example above all are the Ent, the oldest creatures of Middle-earth, the shepherds of the trees and keepers of the secrets of the Universe of Arda. Through letters and writings on the one hand and scientific studies of the plant kingdom on the other, journalist Alessio Vissani and PEFC Italy Secretary General Antonio Brunori will discuss precisely about the role of trees and nature in Tolkien literature.

Bio

Antonio Brunori
PEFC Italy Secretary General. A forestry doctor and publicist journalist, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Florence, a Master of Science in Agroforestry from the University of Florida (USA) and a PhD in Arboriculture from the University of Perugia. He is currently Secretary General of PEFC Italy (since 2001). He has participated in international projects on issues of legality, sustainable forest management and the valorization of forest products and in Italy and abroad.

Alessio Vissani
Photojournalist and freelance journalist for the national newspaper Avvenire and editor of the national pop magazine Lega Nerd. He has other freelance collaborations with local newspapers and sports photo agencies. He loves hiking in the mountains and venturing on unknown trails in search of situations to photograph. A great reader and fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, a passion around which he has been working for years on photographic projects on the "fantastic," also producing the first co-authored book where photography meets illustration entitled "Middle Art-Book."