From the internationally bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees

Forests are more than simply a collection of trees. They are complex ecosystems made up of thousands of species, including animals, fungi and bacteria. And the best way to save trees and perhaps ensure a habitable future is to step aside and let forests - naturally better equipped than tree-planting schemes to face environmental challenges - heal themselves. At the heart of this book lies Wohlleben's passionate plea: that our survival is dependent on trusting ancient forests and allowing them to thrive.

With the warmth and wonder familiar to readers from his previous books, Wohlleben also shares emerging scientific research about how forests shape climates both locally and across continents; that trees adapt to changing environmental conditions through passing knowledge down to their offspring; and how old growth may in fact have the most survival strategies for climate change.