EXPEDITION
From Dream to Reality, There’s More Than One Step: The Story of Vincent Pearlstein, Canopy Entomologist
Although exploring tropical forests can seem like an adventure reserved only for a handful of lucky people, Vincent Pearlstein has shown us that with passion, perseverance, and a curious nature, this dream can become a reality. Vincent is a young canopy entomologist, trained in forestry and fascinated by biodiversity, who never stops pushing the limits of possibility during his expeditions. Today, he’s talking to us about his unique project—the exploration of the canopies on the island of São Tomé and Príncipe. Before diving into his adventure, let’s take a moment to better understand who Vincent is and what brought him to explore forest canopies.
Vincent Pearlstein is no ordinary researcher. Originally from Arles, in southern France, he quickly set himself apart through his interest in insects—a world as fascinating as it is complex. A true lover of biodiversity since his childhood, he specialised in entomology while studying forest engineering. His favourite terrain? The unexplored or little-known tropical canopy zones. It’s precisely this passion that led him to participate in scientific expeditions in 2019 and more recently in 2023 in the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago.
In addition to his scientific career, Vincent discovered a new passion during his training—tree climbing. It’s no coincidence that this activity—combining climbing techniques and arboricultural practices—is a natural extension of his work as an entomologist. To explore canopies, nothing is more natural than learning to climb trees—a technically and physically challenging skill. And that’s where FTC TREE comes in.
The journey of a scientific adventurer
When Vincent contacted us in 2023, his project to explore the canopy captivated us immediately. At FTC TREE, we are always looking for passionate projects where our equipment can make a difference. We understood that climbing into the dense canopy on São Tomé wouldn’t be an easy task and that it would require robust, reliable equipment adapted to the tropical environment.
Vincent had already acquired several climbing skills, but he lacked the specialised tools for such a mission. So, we worked together to build a complete kit: a climbing harness with ropes designed specially for SRT (single rope technique) and several accessories to ensure his safety and comfort during the long hours spent in the giant tropical trees. This partnership helped him achieve his dream of discovering the hidden treasures within the canopy.
A project sponsored by FTC TREE
From Dream to Reality, There’s More Than One Step
September 2022
The next expedition to São Tomé and Príncipe has been approved. I’m going to leave again for three weeks of exploration in August 2023! I already participated in the first expedition of this kind in 2019. We went for two weeks to explore the island and discover new insect species. This time, we’ll continue the work but with the help of a herpetologist to round out our skills. A thrilling adventure awaits!
October 2022
The organisation is in full swing, and an idea just came to me: if we’re going to explore little-known places, why shoot for the stars ? In fact, I discovered a new sport a few months ago—tree climbing. A cross between potholing and sport climbing, the equipment is similar, but it's a completely different world. For the forestry engineer in training that I am, sharing the treetops is a far more exhilarating sensation than scraping your fingers on granite. I, therefore, decided in October that our next expedition would be to explore the Santomean canopy. What a dream! At the end of a climbing session with a classmate, we went into the sauna to meditate a bit, and I tried to imagine what a tropical forest would look like from above.
November 2022
I’m on my third phone call. In fact, before any project, it’s important to investigate what has already been done and what has worked (and what hasn’t for that matter, since others could have already hit a brick wall). Thankfully, although fewer than quantum physics researchers, there are several arborists—as they like to call themselves—who have already taken part in this kind of mission. Since I’m still a beginner in the field , any discussions remain basic, and I'm having a hard time moving beyond the basics to the essence. I clearly lack the basic tree-climbing training needed if I want my project to succeed. I’m still motivated, but the amount of information and the technical elements to be integrated do not stop expanding. I need to practise.
February 2023
I met with a tree climber society in the Besançon area. The friendly and enthusiastic climbers at IdeeHaut helped me complete my technical climbing skills. I’ll do a few more round trips from Nancy to the Jura Region to participate in all sorts of events to help me continue to train. This has given me the occasion to meet absolute nutcases whose job it is to put on thick, uncomfortable briefs to hang from a thin rope just over a centimetre in diameter. Some are tree-care workers by trade (others have become hooked on it), but all are keen to share the world of trees they love so much. This community that has welcomed me and helped me so much, has given me confidence in my project and makes me want to succeed!
March 2023
This month, an important meeting was held at the Microland organisation in Eguilles, France! Seven people will leave on this sixth expedition. One specialises in cicadas (Gérard Filippi), another in beetles (Patrick Bonneau), another decided to dedicate his life to flies (Gabriel Nève), and another to snakes and frogs (Matis Mallocher). So many different profiles, with each one talking about his wishes for the coming expedition, as well as possible protocols. In the middle of it all, I introduced my idea to carry out their inventories in the air and not on the ground. They all seemed interested, and so the ‘Canopy Exploration’ project officially became my responsibility. They think that if we find something above, it will be new. What could be more exciting than discovering something never seen before? As a side note, Microland is an organisation of enthusiastic naturalists. It was founded for its first expedition in 2019 by Gérard Fillpi, a cicada and Lepidoptera (butterfly) specialist.
April 2023
I’ve improved my tree-climbing skills. I’ve also reduced my fear of heights. I feel more at ease at the top of these lignin beings that seemed so tall, and yet pale in comparison to the tropical giants! I better understand the jargon used, and I let myself call back some of these arborists to deepen our conversations. As my project has been defined better and officially sponsored by Microland, the discussions are more interesting and my questions more pertinent; I really feel I'm moving ahead.
May 2023
The reality of every project has caught up with me: financing. Since I’m a bit clearer on the type of equipment needed for this type of expedition, I’ve drawn up a draft list. The total is high, and my bank account doesn’t have enough funds for such a project. May is a tough month, bringing its share of difficulties and a loss of motivation. My parents and my friends cheer me up as I continue to look for a solution. Unfortunately, institutions don’t respond or refuse to sponsor me, and I’m not prepared enough to apply for major funding. Patience and willpower keep me going.
23 May 2023
Hévéa, a tree-care equipment supplier, has responded to my email asking for a partnership and asked me to send them my list of equipment. They need to discuss it in-house and see if my project interests them. I take the time to respond and send them the list of equipment. Once the email is sent, a whole host of emotions rises in me and I have trouble falling asleep until late that night. This could really be a great opportunity. While I wait, I continue to train, climb... and dream.
29 May 2023
I’ve been refreshing my inbox for the past three days. It’s difficult to follow my lecture classes when I'm thinking about this project that has never been as close to success as it is now. Finally, at 5:15 PM as I was leaving class, I received the email I’d been waiting for. Laurent Pierron, director of FTC TREE and founder of En Quête d'Arbre proposes a meeting this week. I write my response within the hour, take the time to reread it, and three hours later, I send the email! We meet two days later at 8:00 AM to validate our partnership and launch the project.
1 June 2023
Celebration! Beyond my wildest hopes, it was FTC TREE who responded to my request for a partner! I can’t believe it. An authentic sponsorship has been offered to me for this expedition. They are giving me all the equipment I need! I’m overwhelmed with excitement and impatience to return to the archipelago where my passion was born. I'm aware I’ve been preparing this project for some time, and now that everything is on track, I will need to get busy to make this one-of-a-kind expedition a reality!
June 2023
I receive the equipment this month. It’s like Christmas in summer. I'm used to climbing with a recreational harness and two prusik knots, but now I know the comfort of a professional climbing harness and the efficiency of SRT access. I feel like I'm discovering a new technique and my excitement has never been higher. We’re set to leave in a month and a half. The plane tickets have been booked. My equipment is ready. I only need to buy a tarp to protect my hammock from the rain.
July 2023
I’ve finally been able to meet the FTC TREE and Hévéa team with whom I’m now in regular contact. On the agenda: validation of my climbing protocol and my technical skills, practical and technical advice, and an informal discussion about expeditions in the tropics. It was an invigorating day where I learned a lot, and afterwards, I felt more confident about the fast-approaching departure.
18 August 2023
The 22.9-kilo bag (out of 23 maximum) has been checked and is on its way to São Tomé. My 80 kilos are also loaded and seated in an enormous metal bullet that will take 18 hours to fly the 5,000 km separating me from my adventure. I'm venturing into familiar and unfamiliar territory. Although I know São Tomé, and I know how to climb trees, it’s only been a year since I’ve reached the crowns, and when the branches on a tree there are the size of a tree itself in France, the territory seems less and less familiar.
The expedition has begun. We have several goals on the archipelago, ranging from inventories of species already known to exploring new sites and looking for unknown species. During these three weeks, we’ve spent several days climbing giant trees looking for new insects and studying the biodiversity of this magnificent tropical forest. Each day, I become more aware of the richness of this environment and the complexity of each tiny organism that lives here. It’s an incredible experience—an amazing opportunity to see the forest from another angle and to live as close as possible to the canopy.
Supporting innovation: the importance of young researchers
Vincent Pearlstein’s expedition to São Tomé and Príncipe is an excellent example of the way passion, curiosity, and adequate support can transform a dream into reality. Through his determination and the partnership with FTC TREE, Vincent was able to dive into the fascinating universe of tropical canopies, discovering treasures of unexplored biodiversity. His adventure has inspired not only other researchers to explore the canopy, but also reminds us of the importance of supporting young talent in their quest for knowledge and the preservation of our environment. By pushing the limits of scientific exploration, Vincent Pearlstein shows us that each step towards the unknown can pave the way to extraordinary discoveries.
