Ireland was once the most forested nation in Europe. In the past 6,000 years, deforestation and land conversion have transformed Ireland from the most forested, at 80% biodiverse woodland coverage, to the least forested, now at a devastating 2%. With this deforestation comes the extinction of hundreds of species, the loss of an atmosphere-cooling carbon sink, and the degradation of soil, water, and air quality for humans and wildlife. The Irish, historically known as “The Gaels,” or, the “Tree People,” have a particularly poignant connection to the forest. It’s traceable back to their fifth century alphabet’s use of tree names as letters, places named after trees, and even laws protecting sacred trees. By the new millenia, the Tree People have lost their trees. How do we restore this fundamental eco-cultural connection?

My upcoming year of work in Ireland can help bridge this rift by affirming the inextricable link between biodiversity and cultural continuity. To accomplish this, I am partnering with one of Ireland’s leading nonprofit reforestation organizations, Reforest Nation. Through creating field research-informed musical compositions, I will endeavor to make accessible Ireland's ancient relationship with native forests and re-engage land stewardship. I feel drawn to Ireland by a strong connection with traditional Celtic music, and offer a parallel perspective as someone who grew up in the redwoods of Humboldt County, one of Earth’s last old-growth forests. The heart of this proposal lies in my ability to create original music that weaves Celtic motifs into my unique Folk fusion training, amplifying the mission of Reforest Nation to resonate with both local and international audiences. This work will be co-mentored by Jimmy Smyth, Grammy-nominated Irish musician, and Gearóid Mc Evoy, wildlife biologist and Reforest Nation founder.

Think of my project like a tree. The first phase, spanning September - November 2025, is the root work: research developing my foundational understanding of what feeds Reforest Nation and the communities it serves. The second phase, unfolding from December - March, can be compared to the trunk: creating musical works that support the infrastructure of the organization’s specific mission and programs. The third and final phase correlates with the budding of the trees’ canopy in April - June: unfurling my musical offerings and their benefits for the community through online campaigns and a culminating fundraising event with music at the forefront Moving forward, this experience will empower me to pursue a career that fuses my greatest vocational passion: music, with the cause most important to me: conserving and restoring Earth’s landscapes.

After ten years of ecological restoration volunteering with Humboldt Botanical Gardens, Redwood Coast Action Agency, and Cal Poly Humboldt, Sylvie’s work has caught the eye of a local restoration agency called Samara Restoration. She and Samara are in conversation about promoting local environmental initiatives through music following her year in Ireland.