That isn’t to say that science has everything figured out. I was originally concerned that his claims come from a desire to anthropomorphize what he doesn’t fully understand, but everything is backed by scientific data. Wohlleben’s book may read like a family drama, but it is firmly based in science. Small dramas play out in the natural cycle of death and rebirth, but overall the forest’s longevity can be attributed to the social network they have created. Left to their own devices, old-growth forests create their own ecologies and can withstand even the harshest weather fluctuations as long as they work together. These lines of communication allow trees to warn others of danger or lend their struggling neighbors extra nutrients and water. They form tight-knit communities that send electric signals through their extensively interwoven root systems and disperse scented pheromones into the air. Wohlleben paints a picture of dense forests where trees not only grow close to one another, but also actively communicate with each other. Who knew 500-year-old trees could be so entertaining? Wohlleben knew, and you will too. Peter Wohlleben, a former forester, describes the drama of centuries-old forests in a way that is both approachable and enjoyable. One thing is for sure: you will never look at trees the same way again after reading this book. Genres: Non-Fiction, Forestry, Ecology, Conservation The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World, by Peter Wohlleben
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