The Berkana Institute

My path in life has been varied.  Of Swedish origin, I grew up in various places, namely, Chile, Sweden and Switzerland and now spend time working between France and the UK.  After University studies in Public Relations and Communications from Geneva, Switzerland, and with persuasion from my life partner Vicky McNeil, I ended up being a clueless nature guide in the great forests of Maine, USA.   There I canoed to work every day, whilst trying to make sense of the ecosystem and its diversity around me.   My reading companions and inspiration came from Henry David Thoreau and the Bhagavad Gita - both opening doors and challenging me to think deeply about the nature of life and all its manifestations.  The forests of Maine were a perfect place to reflect on these things and trees teach patience, a valuable lesson in the morning dew of youth.   But having spent some time in the forests, and witnessing clearcuts, I understood early on that all was not well in the deep woods.

After the USA, full of idealistic utopia I went off to India to find myself, which I never did unfortunately, I am still looking.  I worked with my partner Vicky with a local NGO to inform people about natural disaster prepardeness and we also tried to raise money for a local rural school. 

When back in Switzerland I co-founded WorkingAbroad with Vicky and for almost a decade we have been sending volunteers to overseas ecological and humanitarian programmes - WorkingAbroad aims to give people the ability to take action for nature and society.  WorkingAbroad was one of the first non-governmental organisations to send self financed volunteers to support local projects worldwide. 

All this leads to Earth Restoration Service which I operate today. 

ERS is an international organisation with the aim of fostering a global network of projects involved in repair of ecosystems, including planting trees to restore forests, cleaning polluted oceans and rivers, and reintroducing endangered species into the wild.

My inspirations are music, permaculture, wilderness and meditation.  I have done recordings on the Native American flute and featured on US national radio.  I am currently doing the full permaculture diploma having already obtained the design certificate.  

I hope the above gives insight about me - thank you for reading and please do contribute with your ideas on restoration and how we can, in Arne Naess’ words: “replenish the earth”.

Andreas Kornevall

Enjoy some of these short messages I have produced.

Please sign your name or upload your logo under: www.restore-earth.org