Forests are often narrowly valued for their capacity to store huge amounts of carbon. While they do play a crucial role in the carbon cycle, this simplified view can be harmful in promoting questionable carbon offsets schemes and advancing reforestation and set-asides as priority strategies. But existing forests — from the old-growth Tongass National Forest described as “America’s lungs,” to the giant bamboo kelp in the Great African Sea Forest, and the planet’s tropical rainforests — are so much more than mere carbon depositories. This session will turn to the individuals that know these forests best, and explore how the communities that live in harmony with these ecosystems have managed to support their own needs, protect their forests, and tap into diverse climate solutions buried deep within the trees.