Author: Peter Wohlleben
Published: 2019 in German. English version 2021, translated by Jane Billinghurst, published by Black Inc.
Review by Graham Kelly of NPA’s Environmental Book Group
Peter Wohlleben is a German forester, best known for his “The Hidden Life of Trees” published in 2015. This newer book covers a variety of tree-related topics, mostly linked to relationships of various kinds between humans and trees. The author has a huge knowledge of trees. He is also willing to commit his own ideas and opinions into his writing.
The early chapters deal with how humans use their senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, other) to perceive trees and forests. We are now spending less time in nature, so the author believes we are not as aware of, and are out of practice using, our sensory abilities. He cites many facts about our capabilities and encourages us to become fully engaged in nature with a focus on sensing our surroundings. There is a lot of research showing that viewing green, especially in trees, improves our state of mind. Humans are one of the few mammals who can properly see the colour green.
The following chapters contain many aspects of our perception of trees and forests, and the sensory and communications capabilities of trees. German research has shown that being in a deciduous forest lowers blood pressure, though this is not true for non-native spruce or pine forests. Trees transpire and emit particles and chemicals which can benefit us. An ancient cultural perspective is given in the chapter “Language of Trees”, being the word “true” is derived from an original Indo-European word “Dru”, meaning oak. The most active sensory part of a tree is its roots. They are constantly feeling, tasting, testing, and deciding where to spread further. They are the “brains” of the tree, leading to the author’s comment that trees “stand on their heads”. An example cited of trees “hearing” is an experiment in which Arabidopsis produces a defence against caterpillars, in response to a recording of munching caterpillars.
Other chapters deal with human use of trees and forests. Our development as a species has been enhanced by our ability to cook food, enabled by wood fires. However, the content is mostly less positive, due to the ever increasing demand for products derived from wood. The author describes the difference between longstanding old growth forests and other forests. He acknowledges that Germany has none of the former. Old growth forests have greater diversity and resilience against natural hazards, as well as being a much higher ongoing store of carbon. He strongly advocates protection of old growth forest. He despairs of the clear felling methods now employed, due to soil loss, habitat destruction and river pollution. He criticizes the burning of wood instead of coal, based on the EU concept that wood burning is “carbon emissions neutral”.
The book has many other topics not mentioned above, including trees and electricity (glowing trees), medicine from trees, the increase in presence and effect of invasive foreign species, issues with how we trim trees in urban environments and confronting climate change.
Book club members had mixed feelings about the book. Whilst acknowledging the broad knowledge, variety and many interesting titbits, there is a question mark over whether the author has inspired us to further embrace our bond with forests and nature. The members already have much environmental understanding, knowledge, and commitment.
