I Speak for the Trees

I Speak for the Trees is a podcast that explores the consequences of land use change. Join us as we investigate the parallels between The Lorax and the real world in order to address the issue of sustainable land use change. From local land clearing in Wisconsin, restoration of overgrazed ranchland in Texas, to green space implementation in Chicago, we highlight how technology, policy, education, and community action can come together to reshape the way we think about and interact with our land.

Music and Sound:

Music and sound effects from Descript Library other than McCarthy (Blue Dot Sessions)
Quantum Jazz - Passing Fields (Blue Dot Sessions) First Results (Blue Dot Sessions),
Basketliner (Blue Dot Sessions) Borough (Blue Dot Sessions) Lakal (Blue Dot Sessions) and
Delamine (Blue Dot Sessions). David Bamberger speaking clips from National Geographic’s “50
Years Ago, This Was a Wasteland. He Changed Everything | Short Film Showcase” YouTube
Documentary.

The Lorax by Dr. Suess, audiobook read by Ted Danson

 

Interviewee Bios:
Dr. Diana Moanga is a Lecturer and the Manager of the Spatial Analysis Center in the Stanford
Doerr School of Sustainability. Her research includes studying land use land cover change
processes using remote sensing and spatial analysis, focusing on the effects of environmental and
anthropogenic stressors on coastal socio-environmental systems. She is particularly passionate
about furthering our understanding of climate equity for coastal communities and mapping
coastal hazards at various scales. She has a Ph.D. in Environmental Science Policy and
Management from UC Berkeley in 2020. Her dissertation research used geospatial techniques to
study land use and land cover changes across California. Specifically, her research explored
management impacts on California’s coastal lands, agricultural transitions in the Central Valley,
and wildfire activity under future climate regimes. Diana also earned a Master’s in Science in
Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami in 2015. For her master's research she
examined the spatial and temporal characteristics of harmful algal blooms and studied coastal
zone management and coral conservation.

Scott Stortz is the elected Village President of Slinger, Wisconsin, where he leads efforts to foster
thoughtful growth and community development with an emphasis on quality of life, controlled
taxes, and business development. He’s held the position of Village President since 2021, and is
also the president of Star Properties, Inc, a real estate firm specializing in residential sales in
Washington, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Fond Du Lac, Dodge, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cardinal Stritch University with a Bachelor of Science
and a minor in Sales & Marketing.

 

David Bamberger is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Selah Ranch in Blanco County,
Texas, in the heart of the Hill Country. Born into poverty, he created a successful career in
entrepreneurship, which allowed him to fund the purchase of Selah Ranch in 1969. Over the
course of the next quarter century, Bamberger and his team restored what was the “‘sorriest piece
of land’” in Blanco County. Through a myriad of methods–including the selective thinning of
Ashe Juniper trees–and countless difficulties, their efforts have resulted in a thriving ecosystem
and the rejuvenation of formerly-dry springs. In addition to being a steward of the land, Mr.
Bamberger has made tremendous efforts to share his wisdom with the next generation, hosting
field trips to Selah Ranch, and developing curriculum on topics such as groundwater infiltration.

Research:
● Importance and prevalence of cities in the future
Neil Khor, et al. (2022). World Cities Report 2022, Envisioning the Future of Cities, UN
Habitat https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2022/06/wcr_2022.pdf
● Maggie Daley Park construction process
Tarantino, J. (2024). Explore Maggie Daley Park: Chicago’s Urban Wonderland. The
Environmental Blog. https://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/2024/12/maggie-daley-park/
● Ecosystem Services Definition
Millennium ecosystem assessment, M. E. A. Ecosystems and human well-being. Vol. 5.
Washington, DC: Island press, 2005.
● National Geographic Documentary on Selah Ranch
National Geographic. “50 Years Ago, This Was a Wasteland. He Changed Everything |
Short Film Showcase.” YouTube, 24 Apr. 2017,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSPkcpGmflE. Accessed 21 May 2025.
● Background on Selah Ranch
Klepper, Dan E. “Scout | December 2007 | TPW Magazine.” Tpwmagazine.com, 2025,n
tpwmagazine.com/archive/2007/dec/reader/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.