From the internationally bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees comes a revelatory manifesto about ancient forests: how they adapt to climate change by transmitting their wisdom through the generations and why our future depends on 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 sharp critique of forest management, tree planting, and the exploitation of old forests.

As human-induced climate change ravages the planet, forests play a crucial role in maintaining habitable land. While politicians and businessmen suggest that deforestation can be offset by mass tree planting, Wohlleben warns: many of these planting programs lead to ecological disaster. These trees are more vulnerable to disease, floods, fires, and landslides. We must understand that forests are not just a collection of trees. Instead, they are ecosystems composed of thousands of species, from animals to fungi and bacteria. The solution to saving the trees, and ourselves? To give space 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 on how forests shape the climate both locally and across entire continents. Trees adapt to changing environmental conditions by passing on knowledge to their offspring, and how old forests may actually possess the best survival strategies for climate change.

At the heart of The Power of Trees is Wohlleben's passionate plea: that our survival depends on trusting ancient woodlands and allowing them to thrive.

Pages: 272, Dimensions: 12.9x12.9cm