Our Inner Forest
The symbiosis between the outer macrobiome (forests) and the inner microbiome (our gut, or “inner forest”) is a deeply interconnected relationship that reflects nature’s principle of reciprocity—a continuous exchange of life-sustaining elements between ecosystems. Here’s how this dynamic works across different levels:
1. Shared Microbial Networks: The Invisible Connection
• Forests and human bodies share microbial communities. Many beneficial bacteria, fungi, and yeasts found in forests are also essential for human gut health.
• Soil microbes (like Mycobacterium vaccae) have been shown to boost human immune function and mental well-being—just breathing in a forest enriches our microbiome.
• Phytoncides (antimicrobial compounds released by trees) enhance gut diversity and immune resilience, similar to how they protect forests from pathogens.
2. Diversity Drives Resilience
• Forests thrive on biodiversity—a healthy forest has thousands of interconnected species that regulate balance.
• The gut microbiome mirrors this—higher microbial diversity is linked to stronger immunity, digestion, and mental health.
• Forest farming of edible plants (especially with native species) promotes a more biodiverse diet, which feeds and enriches the gut microbiome.
3. Decomposers & Fermentation: The Digestive Systems of Forests & Humans
• Fungi, bacteria, and decomposers break down organic material in the forest, recycling nutrients back into the soil.
• The gut does the same with food—our microbiome “ferments” fiber and plant compounds, creating essential nutrients (e.g., short-chain fatty acids for gut health).
• Traditional fermentation practices (like kimchi, sauerkraut, or wild yeast bread) mimic the natural decomposition and transformation processes of the forest floor.
4. Mycelium & Gut Microbiota: The Underground and Inner Networks
• Mycorrhizal fungi in forests connect trees, helping them exchange nutrients—a “wood-wide web.”
• Gut bacteria create their own symbiotic networks, producing enzymes and neurotransmitters essential for health.
• Edible fungi (like native NZ mushrooms) support both gut and soil microbiomes, acting as prebiotics and immune regulators.
5. Regenerative Loops: What We Take, We Must Give Back
• Monocultures (in farming or gut bacteria) lead to depletion, disease, and collapse.
• Regenerative practices—eating diverse, whole foods and cultivating diverse forests—restore balance.
• When we restore outer ecosystems (forests), we also restore our own inner forests.
Restoring the Inner & Outer Forests: A Practical Approach
Eat from the forest → Wild foods, native plants, fermented foods, and polyphenol-rich berries feed the gut microbiome.
Breathe in the forest → Exposure to soil microbes, tree aerosols, and natural fungi enriches immunity.
Grow food in a forest → Agroforestry with native species supports both soil and gut diversity.
Use natural cycles → Composting, fermentation, and soil regeneration mirror gut fermentation and nutrient cycling.
Conclusion: The Inner & Outer Forests Are One
A healthy forest nurtures a healthy gut, and vice versa. By restoring biodiversity outside, we heal our biodiversity inside—a regenerative loop that connects all life.