Restoring Forests, Re-Storying Landscapes: Cultivating Attentiveness to Dipterocarp Trees in the Philippines

This practice-based research on Leyte Island, Philippines, examines the legacy of colonial deforestation and documents contemporary rainforestation. It begins by analysing how the dominance of coconut palms has obscured the historical presence of native dipterocarp forests. By tracking mother trees and listening to the landscape, the study uncovers hidden ecological loss, highlighting the role of multispecies attentiveness. Central to this work is ‘re-story-ation’ – a decolonial method of ecological engagement that blends narrative and landscape restoration. Responding to calls for more creative forms of noticing, the article combines storytelling with site-specific practice to envision futures beyond extractive frameworks. Through collaborations with scientists, farmers, and schoolchildren, it demonstrates how ecological restoration and storytelling can support community-led forest recovery. Attentiveness to native species emerges as a vital practice for renewing human–landscape relationships in postcolonial contexts, weaving ecological and social healing into a transformative process that sustains future generations.