When the Forest Breathes - by Suzanne Simard (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The author of Finding the Mother Tree and scientist who pioneered the concept of sophisticated communication between trees, Suzanne Simard now offers a powerful vision for saving our forests based on nature's deep-rooted cycles of renewal.

"A masterclass on the inner workings of forests. . . . This is science as an act of love for the world." --Zoë Schlanger, author of The Light Eaters

Raised in a family of loggers committed to sensible forest stewardship, trailblazing ecologist Suzanne Simard has watched as timber companies leave forests at higher risk for wildfires, water crises, and plant and animal extinction. But her research has the potential to chart a new course. The forest, she reveals, is a symphony of finely honed cycles of regeneration--from mushrooms breaking down logs to dying elder trees passing their genetic knowledge to younger ones--that hold the key to protecting our forests. Working closely with local Indigenous communities, whose models of responsible forestry have been largely dismissed, Simard examines how human interventions--particularly destruction of the overstory's mother trees--endanger new growth and longevity. If we can honor the tools that trees have honed for sharing intergenerational wisdom, she argues, we can protect these sacred places for many years to come.

As she considers how older living things facilitate the conditions for new growth to flourish, Simard faces parallel rhythms of loss and regeneration in her own life, watching her two daughters grow into adults and savoring her final days with her ailing mother. Animated by wonder for our forests and the intricate practices of caretaking that have long sustained them, When the Forest Breathes is a vital reminder of all the natural world has to teach us about adaptability, resilience, and community.

Review Quotes

"A masterclass on the inner workings of forests--a lush glimpse at the symphonic mutualisms and intergenerational cascades that sustain life at every scale. Simard, one of the boundary-pushing scientists of our time, is also a resplendent storyteller. Through her, new threads of connection between Indigenous knowledge and Western science are formed. The experiments and ideas in When the Forest Breathes are quietly revolutionary. This is science as an act of love for the world."
--Zoë Schlanger, author of The Light Eaters

"This passionate study from ecologist Simard reveals how preserving forests' natural cycles of death and renewal is key to their longevity . . . . Throughout, Simard artfully highlights the importance of honoring natural cycles by reflecting on her daughter's coming-of-age and her mother's reaching the end of her life. The result is a resonant and urgent call for change."
--Publishers Weekly

"A captivating journey into the deep woods . . . . Simard clearly conveys the excitement of planning and carrying out her experiments, as well as the many obstacles to be conquered....Her gratitude toward and appreciation for [her] students . . . is touching, as they follow in her footsteps and come up with enticing new projects of their own . . . . Simard's lyrical tributes to the creatures large and small that make up an ecological system, from fungi and moss to squirrels and bears to the largest and oldest of trees, add a dimension of heart . . . . A determinedly hopeful tribute to natural regeneration."
--Kirkus

"In this fervent follow-up to Finding the Mother Tree, forest ecologist Simard delivers a potent mix of superb science writing, environmental advocacy, and a sense of spirituality inspired by her close connection to the natural world . . . . Throughout these pages, one mighty message reverberates: protect the trees and save the forests."
--Booklist (starred review)

About the Author

DR. SUZANNE SIMARD is the New York Times bestselling author of Finding the Mother Tree. She is a Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia, where she leads The Mother Tree Project and co-directs the Belowground Ecosystem Group. Dr. Simard has earned a global reputation for pioneering research on tree connectivity and communication and the productivity, health, and biodiversity of forests. Her work has been published widely, with over 170 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Ecology, and Global Biology, and she has co-authored the book Climate Change and Variability. Her research has been communicated broadly through three TED Talks, TED Experiences, as well as articles and interviews in The New Yorker, National Geographic, NPR, CNN, and many more. She lives with her family in the mountains around Nelson, British Columbia.