Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Searles.
Hi Chris, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a native Austinite, some of my earliest memories are of running under the tree canopies in the parks here. Fast fwd to being in a band that got popular playing under the big oaks on UT’s West Mall in the 90s,,, Fast fwd to 25 years after that (2015) I started a nonprofit called “biointegrity” focused on globally-strategic conservation. This means protecting Earth’s vital organ ecosystems first because they’re the most significant on life-support services production, quality of life, climate stability, moisture circulation, temperature, and food production globally. those ecosystems happen to be forests, tropical forests… Fast fwd to now I’m utilizing the science on how forests move moisture over landscapes to fight wildfire. I’ve done 10 regional projects in the last 3 years, 9 of them successful. I’m currently working #11, “The Central Texas Projects” and about to launch, ‘WTF, Texas!” Water Trees & Forests, TX!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh course, lots of struggles and lots of fun.
Struggles because People today are very belief, self-image-obsessed and personal safety/security-worried, very tuned-out to the realities of natural systems — particularly biologically-rich ecosystems on land — being governors of all things for us humans. We need to look more deeply at real things.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’m leaning into observing other species as mentors right now.
Some big reasons:
they’re older than us and have figured out how to thrive and survive without human ideas or even brains
I find “plant body intelligence” to be about literal balance, joy, endurance, and appreciation of the miracles of being alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://biointegrity.net
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/biointegrity
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/@biointegrity
Image Credits
Photo Chris Searles, April 16, 2025, Leakey, TX.
(feel free to crop as needed)
