How forests communicate and cooperate

Suzanne Simard, a pioneering forest ecologist, has spent her career researching trees and forests, which led to the discovery that trees communicate and cooperate, much like human societies. Her book, "Finding the Mother Tree," is a journey into the heart of the forest, where she reveals the awe-inspiring social networks beneath our feet.

Underground communication highways

Trees aren't solitary beings. They're interconnected through vast underground networks of mycelium—the mass of branched filaments of fungi—forming a "wood wide web" that allows them to share nutrients, water, and even information. These networks are centered around "Mother Trees," the largest and oldest individuals in a forest, which act as hubs, nurturing and supporting their offspring and neighboring trees. If the mother tree is cut down, the whole community will suffer.

(Watch her TED talk from 2017 ☝️ or a wonderful talk and Q&A with The Long Now Foundation)

The forest as a community

Simard's research has revolutionized our understanding of soil and forests. They're not just collections of trees; they're complex communities where individuals communicate, share resources, and collaborate for the greater good. This groundbreaking insight should have profound implications for how we manage and conserve forests.

Why should you care?

Understanding the interconnectedness of trees can help us build healthier, more resilient forests that can better withstand the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and other threats. It also opens up new possibilities for sustainable forestry practices that prioritize the well-being of the entire ecosystem.