BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WENY) -- Tanglewood Nature Center welcomed world-renowned ecologist Dr. Margaret Lowman for an lecture on forest canopy ecology and conservation today.

Elmira native Dr. Margaret "Canopy Meg" Lowman is known around the world for her work in forest exploration and preservation. Today, she brings her knowledge home to the Southern Tier, where another canopy walkway is on the way.

Tanglewood Nature Center will embark on a new mission to the skies, amongst the vast number of species located in the forest canopies. Both Tanglewood and Lowman share the mission of educating people on the importance of these ecosystems.

"The walkway provides a huge income to the region. It provides jobs for people through hotels and restaurants and guiding. And so we've used those as a big economic incentive to save forests. And at the same time, They educate the local kids and they allow students to come up and make cool discoveries about the treetops," said Lowman, who is known for her worldwide ecology work.

The canopy walkway project is a multi-year culmination of ideas including forest preservation, education, and discovery. Canopy walkways like the one being planned for here, have been built around the world, and in some places where forest life is endangered. When completed, it will be the second canopy walkway in New York State.

"There is planned to be a platform that overlooks a small pond that's there, that you will cross two over a suspension bridge. What we're hoping to be able to do is to build this hopefully sometime next year. We are excited about the kind of funding that we have been able to get from this project," remarked Scott Moore, Board President of Tanglewood Nature Center.

Much of the $3.6 Million in funding was awarded through grants and economic initiatives, including the American Rescue Plan. $1 Million was awarded from Chemung County, the other $2.6 million comes from federal, state, and local grants.

Lowman's work provides a treasure trove of knowledge that experts at all levels of ecology can utilize. Forest canopies are vital for allowing diverse ecosystems to thrive, and the more we understand them, the better we can look out for them.