Wisdom from Lichen: The Ecology of Anti-oppressive Environmental Education

Abstract

Ecologically, lichen plays a significant role in the formation of flourishing ecosystems by breaking apart rock formations using small fungal threads to form fertile soil which supports a growing complexity/diversity of life. This essay uses lichen as an analogy to describe fossilized constructs (colonial epistemologies and ontologies, neoliberalism, and white centered environmental racism) that need to be eroded within traditional environmental education. Then, concepts of lichen-supported biodiversity are used to discuss conceptualizations of decolonizing and queering ecopedagogy to promote anti-oppressive environmental education in an aim to rethink understandings of flourishing and thriving.