The Power of Trees

By Peter Wohlleben, Jane Billinghurst (Translator)

Forests hold the key to our survival; can we let them heal themselves before it's too late?

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271 pages

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Bookroo's summary

In a world ravaged by climate change, ancient forests hold secrets to survival. Peter Wohlleben reveals how trees communicate and adapt, critiquing misguided forestry practices. Can we trust forests to heal themselves and secure our future? Discover the hidden wisdom of trees and the urgent need to protect these vital ecosystems. As politicians push for mass tree planting, Wohlleben warns of ecological disasters, urging us to step aside and let nature thrive. Will we heed the call to preserve our planet's green guardians before it's too late?

From the publisher

“Another love letter from Wohlleben to the green world… makes the case for how we should allow forests throughout the world to regrow and in the process help heal not only the climate but us, as well.”–Lydia Millet, Oprah Daily An illuminating manifesto on ancient forests: how they adapt to climate change by passing their wisdom through generations, and why our future lies in protecting them. In his beloved book The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben revealed astonishing discoveries about the social networks of trees and how they communicate. Now, in The Power of Trees, he turns to their future, with a searing critique of forestry management, tree planting, and the exploitation of old growth forests. As human-caused climate change devastates the planet, forests play a critical role in keeping it habitable. While politicians and business leaders would have us believe that cutting down forests can be offset by mass tree planting, Wohlleben offers a warning: many tree planting campaigns lead to ecological disaster. Not only are these trees more susceptible to disease, flooding, fires, and landslides, we need to understand that forests are more than simply a collection of trees. Instead, they are ecosystems that consist of thousands of species, from animals to fungi and bacteria. The way to save trees, and ourselves? Step aside and let forests–which are naturally better equipped to face environmental challenges–heal themselves. With the warmth and wonder familiar to readers from his previous books, Wohlleben also shares emerging scientific research about how forests shape climates both locally and across continents; that trees adapt to changing environmental conditions through passing knowledge down to their offspring; and how old growth may in fact have the most survival strategies for climate change. At the heart of The Power of Trees lies Wohlleben’s passionate plea: that our survival is dependent on trusting ancient forests, and allowing them to thrive. Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.

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