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Conversations that go deep on the environment, the climate crisis, and the solutions
Conversations that go deep on the environment, the climate crisis, and the solutions
December 10, 2021
Cooperation: the key to surviving and thriving.
You were probably taught in school that nature is all about survival of the fittest. That plants and animals are locked in a zero sum game: individuals and species constantly struggling against each other for resources. Some win, some lose.
It turns out that nature is not just a competition. The latest discoveries of science show that nature involves cooperation among individuals and species. And in particular, we now know that trees in a forest communicate with each other, share resources with each other and protect each other. Mother trees protect and share resources with their offspring. And different tree species share resources with each other in a collaborative relationship that benefits both species. How do we know all this? It’s due to the pioneering research of scientist Suzanne Simard. Suzanne has discovered a secret underground network of tree roots and fungi called mycorrhizae that serve as critical conduits for sharing resources and information between trees. She has completely revolutionized forest ecology.
In our conversation with Suzanne, she explains her groundbreaking findings and we hear about the controversy her findings have stirred up. We also discuss the Mother Tree Project, which is researching forest renewal practices that protect biodiversity, carbon storage and forest regeneration as the climate changes. Suzanne lets us in on her personal journey from a simple, rural upbringing in the British Columbia forests to world famous scientist and author. And she opens up about the challenges of being a woman taking on scientific orthodoxy in a male dominated field.
Suzanne is professor of Forest Ecology in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. She has published over 170 articles relating to forestry and the environment. She earned her PhD in Forest Sciences from Oregon State University in 1997, where her thesis on forest ecology was featured on the cover of Nature, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals. Not a bad way to start a career in science.
Join us around our virtual campfire for a conversation that may help lead us to the key to surviving the climate crisis: cooperation with nature.
““When you feel like you’re part of nature, you feel agency in the future””
Connect with Suzanne Simard: Website丨Twitter丨Instagram丨Simard Lab
Book: Finding the Mother Tree丨The Hidden Life of Trees
TedTalks: How trees talk to each other丨The secret language of trees
Nature Magazine 1997: Net transfer of carbon between tree species with shared ectomycorrhizal fungi
Additional Publications: Ecology丨New Phytologist丨Fungal Biology Reviews丨Forest Ecology and Management丨All Publications
The Mother Tree Project: Website丨Publications丨Technical Reports丨Media
Additional Projects: Designing Successful Forest Renewal Practices for Our Changing Climate丨Rethink Silviculture
Press: The Guardian丨The New York Times Magazine丨New York Magazine丨CNN丨Time Magazine丨Additional Press
Videos: Talks at Google丨Long Now Foundation丨UBC Forestry丨The British Library
References: Forest Bath丨Salmon Forests丨Menominee Forest WI
