A bright manifesto about ancient forests: how they adapt to climate change by passing their wisdom down through the 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 focuses on their future, with a fierce critique of forest management, reforestation, and the exploitation of old forests.

As human-induced climate change ravages the planet, forests play a crucial role in preserving its habitability. While politicians and business leaders make us believe that cutting down forests can be offset by mass tree planting, Wohlleben offers a warning: many reforestation campaigns lead to ecological disaster. These trees are more vulnerable to diseases, floods, fires, and landslides.

We must understand that forests are more than just a collection of trees. They are ecosystems consisting of thousands of species, from animals to fungi and bacteria. The way to save the trees, and ourselves, is to take a step back and let the forests—which are naturally better equipped to handle environmental challenges—heal themselves.

With the warmth and wondrous approach known to his readers from his previous books, Wohlleben also shares emerging scientific research about how forests shape the climate both locally and across continents; how trees adapt to changing environmental conditions by passing knowledge to their offspring; and how old forests may actually have the most survival strategies for climate change.

At the heart of The Power of Trees is Wohlleben’s passionate plea: that our survival hinges on trusting ancient forests and their desire to thrive.

Pages: 280