About the Book
“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.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
PART I
The Wisdom of Trees
1 | When Trees Make Mistakes
2 | A Thousand Years of Learning
3 | Seeds of Wisdom
4 | Filling Up in Winter
5 | Red Flags for Aphids
6 | Early Risers and Late Sleepers
7 | Forest Air-Conditioning
8 | When Rain Falls in China
9 | Take Care and Stand Back
10 | Underrated All-Rounders
PART II
When Forestry Fails
11 | Backed Up Against a Wall
12 | Butchery in the Beech Forest
13 | Germany’s Search for the Supertree
14 | Good Intentions, Poor Outcomes
15 | The New Bark Beetle?
16 | Wolves as Climate Guardians
17 | Is Wood as Eco-Friendly as We Think?
18 | It’s Time to Pay Up
19 | The Toilet Paper Argument
20 | More Money, Less Forest
21 | The Ivory Tower Wobbles
22 | What’s on Your Plate?
PART III
Forests of the Future
23 | Every Tree Counts
24 | Does Everyone Have to Be On Board?
25 | A Breath of Fresh Air
26 | The Forest Will Return
Afterword: Accepting Ignorance
and Treading Carefully in the Forest
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
About the Author :
Peter Wohlleben is the author of several books about the natural world, including The Hidden Life of Trees, The Inner Life of Animals, and The Heartbeat of Trees. His books for children include Can You Hear the Trees Talking?, Do You Know Where the Animals Live?, and Peter and the Tree Children. One of the world’s most notable foresters and a passionate advocate for tree conservation, Wohlleben runs a forest academy in Germany that supports sustainable forest management and teaches adults and children about the many wonders of the forest.
Jane Billinghurst is a nature lover, master gardener, editor, translator, and author of six books. She has translated and edited several books by Peter Wohlleben, including the New York Times bestseller The Hidden Life of Trees. She lives in Anacortes, Washington, next to 2,800 acres of community forest lands.
Review :
"Wise and thought-provoking."
—The Observer
"Wohlleben. . . offers a pointed critique of harmful forestry practices and urges humans to let trees heal themselves. . . [T]he insights into trees’ surprising abilities captivate. . . Nature lovers should take note."
—Publishers Weekly
"Insightful and valuable. . . Wohlleben is a wide-ranging and meticulous researcher as well as a careful observer. . . This is an essential book for any botanist, forester, student of the environment or politician."
—The Winnipeg Free Press
"If we don't learn to leave the trees alone, the trees will eventually be alone anyway—but without us. Wohlleben brilliantly and readably shows us how urgent and how hard it is to do nothing."
—The Guardian
"Another love letter from Wohlleben to the green world. . . [The Power of Trees] 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
"Forester and bestselling environmental writer Wohlleben (Forest Walking, 2022) draws largely on observations of his home territory in Germany in this thoughtful look at how trees learn and adapt. . . the forest is often the last recipient of humanity's benevolence. The author is in his element here as a gentle purveyor of knowledge that provides a new perspective on a crucially important topic. His many fans will be enthused, and new readers will appreciate entering Wohlleben's evocative world."
—Booklist
"In clear, vivid prose and with impeccable reasoning, Peter Wohlleben makes a compelling case that almost everything we do in modern forestry management may be dead wrong. What should we do instead? Let the wisdom of the trees quell our human arrogance, heal the forest, and restore our sweet, green world."
—Sy Montgomery, author of How to Be A Good Creature
"Trees, says Peter Wohlleben, have wisdom. So does he. In this magisterial take on how forests can save the planet from our worst endeavours, the German forester warns us against the hubris of tree planting. For their forest wisdom is greater than ours. Planting is usually bad, a 'giant PR operation.' Instead, he says, the world needs the quiet magic of natural forest restoration. We are, at best, stewards of the world's forests. We must stand back and let them grow."
—Fred Pearce, author of A Trillion Trees: Restoring Our Forests by Trusting in Nature.
"The Power of Trees sends a powerful message that humankind will not survive unless we revolutionize the way we conserve and manage our planet's dwindling forests. Through eye-opening stories, Wohlleben underscores how trees and the biodiversity of the natural world present us with critically important solutions to the climate crisis. [It is an important wakeup call for individuals and large-scale forest managers alike!]"
—Jeffrey Horowitz, founder of Avoided Deforestation Partners and founding trustee of the Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation
"Wohlleben continues to provide convincing and concrete research-based reasons why trees, and more specifically old growth forests, are critical to the health and survival of our planet and all that lives upon it. . . I would call this a must read for everyone!"
—Cori Cusker, Bright Side Bookshop, Flagstaff
"Peter Wohlleben is such a prolific author, you may look at The Power of Trees and wonder what he could possibly have left to say and move on. You'd be mistaken. . . A vital and important read for anyone who cares about our collective future on this planet."
—Tom Beans, Dudley's Bookshop Cafe, Bend
"An urgent and informative book that advocates for a new approach to managing forests that recognizes their complex nature as ecosystems rather than mere warehouses for wood. . . Wohlleben has faith that forests can rebound. He just hopes we'll still be around."
—Suzanne Morgan, Politics & Prose, Washington
"Wohlleben speaks to the importance of our ancient trees and forests. Rather than planting forests of new trees, he explains the huge benefits to be gained from stepping back and allowing the trees to do it themselves. Through his meticulous research and observation, he has discovered the extent to which ancient trees accumulate knowledge and pass it on the younger generations. If we can only trust them, and curb the desire to interfere, they have the power to heal our planet. Highly Recommended!"
—Becky Doherty, Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs
"From the "tree whisperer" (my nickname for Peter Wohlleben) comes his latest reveal of what it means to be a tree and what it means to be humans who are dependent on trees for our well-being. . . Whether you've read his previous bestseller—The Hidden Life of Trees—or are just now discovering the wonders of his writing, you'll get a real education out of this new book. . . I really want you to read this!"
—Linda Bond, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane
"Wohlleben has taken off his gloves and has named the enemy: foresters, and associated players like government agencies, lumber companies, lobbyists, PLUS the heavy machinery that kills soil for centuries (think of still-visible Roman roads). . .Wohlleben has nailed the solution in just a few strokes. FABULOUS!!!"
—Kay Wosewick, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee
Praise for The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
A NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
"A declaration of love and an engrossing primer on trees, brimming with facts and an unashamed awe for nature."
—Washington Post
"Heavily dusted with the glitter of wonderment."
—The New Yorker
"This fascinating book will intrigue readers who love a walk through the woods."
—Publishers Weekly
"In this spirited exploration, [Wohlleben] guarantees that readers will never look at these life forms in quite the same way again."
—Library Journal
