Trees, between visible and invisible

Ernst Zürcher

Trees and forests are under threat today, when they could be our best allies. A new look at nature, based on a scientific approach, lifts the veil of appearances and reveals unsuspected characteristics of trees. As a result, traditional knowledge sometimes appears biologically visionary - while, at the same time, science discovers phenomena that even tradition had no idea existed.

This book paints a panorama in which the visible and the invisible intertwine. It discusses tree peoples, the secret of tree longevity, the golden ratio, "new" water, tides in barrels and the cosmic pulse of buds, subtle messages from trees that are now measurable, such as the warning signs of earthquakes, and much more besides: what is "moonwood"? What does an "electrodendrogram" tell us? How does a wooden house, a log fire or simply forest air affect our health? Why have trees and forests been sources of fertility for agriculture, and how can they become so again - and thus help combat the greenhouse effect?

Trees can enrich and inspire us in many ways, provided we integrate them into our actions. In concrete terms, they are a means not only of mitigating, but also of resolving the current climate catastrophe. And, much more than we imagine, they can help regenerate people and green the Earth.

[Actes Sud] Nature, Hors collection, September 2016
14 x 20.5 cm
288 pages