Spotlight on Science Writers: Peter Wohlleben
For 30 years now, Peter Wohlleben has been telling people about the secret life of trees on guided tours through his forest. His favorite question is, “Did you know that trees have a hidden life?”
In Can You Hear the Trees Talking?, Wohlleben shares his deep love of woods and forests. In the book, he explains the processes of life, death, and regeneration he has observed in the woodland and the scientific processes behind the wonders of which we are unaware of or did not know existed. Much like human families, tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, and support them as they grow, sharing nutrients with those who are sick or struggling and creating an ecosystem that mitigates the impact of extremes of heat and cold for the whole group.
Drawing on groundbreaking new discoveries, Wohlleben presents the science behind the secret and previously unknown life of trees and their communication abilities; he describes how these discoveries have informed his own practices in the forest around him. As he says, a happy forest is a healthy forest, and he believes that eco-friendly practices not only are economically sustainable but also benefit the health of our planet and the mental and physical health of all who live on Earth. The book is meant to show that trees are not just a kind of robot, but sentient living beings that can even communicate.
"Good writing takes readers on an emotional journey. Scientific reports are often dry and boring for laypeople, yet there is so much to discover in them. So I translate this excitement into everyday language."
Beyond the book, Peter realized he should do tours for children who could not visit him in Germany. The goal of these tours is to bring children emotionally closer to nature because we only protect what we love. He now takes millions of people on a virtual forest tour with hopes that children see the woods as an exciting place, perhaps much cooler than a computer!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter Wohlleben spent over twenty years working for the forestry commission in Germany before leaving to put his ideas of ecology into practice. He now runs an environmentally-friendly woodland, where he is working toward the return of primeval forests, as well as caring for both wild and domestic animals.
His book Can You Hear the Trees Talking?, was the winner of the 2021 AAAS/Subaru Book Prize in the Middle School Science Book category.
GOING FURTHER
Book/Author Resources
Peter's website offers biographical information, as well as information on his books. You can also follow him on Instagram (@peter_wohlleben) and Twitter (@PeterWohlleben).
Hear an excerpt from Peter’s picture book, Can You Hear The Trees Talking? It is reading for curious minds of all ages!
Enjoy this interview with Peter posted on YouTube from SVT/NRK/Skavlan.
Peter also wrote an adult book, The Hidden Life of Trees, about the science behind how trees warn each other of danger, live near their family members and even develop best friends.
Trees, Forests, Ecology
Treecology: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Trees and Forests by Monica Russo. This book is one of the finalists of the 2017 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books.
Take a virtual walking tour of the Redwood National Park. Also, hear from one of the many U.S. national park rangers in our STEMTalk interview with Giessell Aguilar.
For the tree enthusiast in you, Tree App is an electronic, mobile field guide that uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves.
Trees talk, know family ties and care for their young? Is this too fantastic to be true? Suzanne Simard (The University of British Columbia, Canada) has been observing and investigating the communication between trees over decades. And her findings are most astounding. Watch the Libelle Series on Do trees communicate?
Environmental Education
Explore Project Learning Tree, an environmental education program for teaching children about trees and forests using hands-on activities.
Consider exploring the forests in a different manner through this Leaf Walkabout AAAS/Subaru STEM Education Resource. You can even do this activity during each season.
Did you know that modern-day field biologists have discovered and developed medicinal plants into an estimated half of our pharmaceutical drugs? Simply put, ethnobotany is the study of how people and cultures (ethno) interact with plants (botany). Hear more from our STEMTalk interview with Dr. Rosalyn LaPier.