The Power of Trees

"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 anywaybut 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

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. A longtime former forester, Wohlleben runs a forest academy in Germany that supports sustainable forest management and teaches adults and children about the many wonders of the forest. To learn more about Peter and his books, visit his website at peterwohllebenbooks.com. 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.

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 | Germanys 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 | Its Time to Pay Up 19 | The Toilet Paper Argument 20 | More Money, Less Forest 21 | The Ivory Tower Wobbles 22 | Whats 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