The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

Peter Wohlleben, in his book, The Hidden Life of Trees goes to great length to show how important trees are.  Not only do they help with managing weather, they also help produce oxygen and provide food and homes for woodland creatures.  Forest trees also look out for each other and care for other trees that are sick or dying.  Trees also prevent top soil from eroding away during a rain storm.  But like all living things, trees are born, grow, reproduce and eventually die.  Tree life happens in decades and centuries, and Peter would like to make the case that trees are living things that deserve care and respect -but on a long term scale.  He points out that there are very few areas with old growth forest still around.  Yet allowing forests to become old growth would mean setting land aside and leaving it alone for at least 500 years.  Ultimately our life on this planet is intricately tied to the well being of trees. By learning more about trees and how best to care for them we are actually making an investment in our own future.