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-[birds chirping]
-[wind through trees]
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[traffic]
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We are a connected society.
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We are connected to our
families and friends,
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but also to our jobs and duties.
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We are connected
over computer networks,
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phone lines
and traffic junctions.
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The world surrounding us is in
constant movement and growth.
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We left our houses made of wood
to plant an artificial forest
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from concrete, glass and metal.
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It's not easy escaping a world
where everything is connected,
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00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:53,320
to spend some time in the forest
where we seek quiet and rest
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00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,080
from our unsteady lives.
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We expect to find some kind
of wisdom in the forest,
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but we don't understand
the voice of nature.
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If those trees could only talk!
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Little do we know,
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that in between
this world of stillness,
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words are rushing
back and forth.
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We only have to tilt
our heads down and listen...
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to our roots.
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[serene music]
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The Coastal Pacific Rain forest
of North America.
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These forests are special
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and known all over the world.
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Here in British Columbia,
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one can find trees of heights
around 100 meters
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and over 1 000 years of age.
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People walk amongst
these ancient giants
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in a sense of spiritual
wonder and respect.
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00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,960
But not anymore
are these places only described
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by mythological metaphors.
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Scientists begin to understand
the importance of these forests
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as they discover more details
about the relationships
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00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,960
between trees
on a microscopic scale.
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00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:13,200
Here in Canada,
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00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,240
at the University of British
Columbia in Vancouver,
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00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:20,000
Dr. Suzanne Simard, Professor
of Forest Ecology,
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conducts
ground-breaking research.
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00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,320
Together with a team
of passionate forest scientists,
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00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,440
she tries to find out more
about the methods
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of communication amongst trees.
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Before I became a professor
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I was actually a forester.
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00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,079
And before that I grew up
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in the Inland Rain forest
of British Columbia.
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As a forester I really was
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moving into an area that
I loved dear to my heart.
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00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:47,480
I knew forests.
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00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,000
As I started working for
the forest industry,
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00:02:50,079 --> 00:02:52,920
I started to realize
that what was happening
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00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,680
didn't really mesh very well
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00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,800
with what I understood
forests to work like.
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00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,040
My job was
to go into old clear cuts
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00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:06,560
or new clear cuts and prescribe
trees to be planted.
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00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:08,680
What the
forest industry was doing then
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00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,720
was planting one or two
species in clear cuts.
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00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:14,000
This was very different
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00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,120
than what I understood
forests to grow like,
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00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,160
where there's mixes of species.
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00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:20,280
When we go walking in the woods
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00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,200
we expect to find
nature untouched and pure,
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00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,320
but in fact
we wander through an environment
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00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:27,880
that has been largely
shaped by men.
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00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:31,680
Pristine forests are rather
unique in the world.
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00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:34,400
In a small country like Germany
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forests have been
intensively managed
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by people for centuries,
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00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:39,760
almost everywhere you go.
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00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,320
In an old, close to natural
Beech-forest in The Eifel,
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00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,720
a low mountain range
in the West of Germany,
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00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,360
forest ranger Peter Wohlleben
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is well aware of the value
of the trees in his district.
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00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,040
For more than two decades
he made his observations.
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00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,400
In his bestselling book "The
hidden life of trees"
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00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,960
he describes the most curious
and unexpected things
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00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,200
that are going on in his forest.
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00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,600
He knows that this place
is a rare treasure
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00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:07,840
that needs to be protected.
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00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:10,720
Originally all of Germany
would have looked
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00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,280
like this old Beech-forest.
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00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,360
80% of the area was covered
with natural Beech-forest.
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00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,200
mixed with other tree species.
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00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,160
But today
there's only a fraction left
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00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,200
and we have
plantation-forests everywhere.
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00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,440
These consists
mostly of plantations
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00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,200
with even edged conifers
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00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:27,040
that have been planted
and are managed
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00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,000
with heavy machinery.
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00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,159
What happened was
that they ended up using
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00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:42,040
the same species everywhere.
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00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:46,720
The standard practice was
to clear-cut and then plant
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00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,400
either Pine or Fir or Spruce.
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00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:50,800
One species.
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00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,800
And I thought,
what was going on here.
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00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,080
The community
was not intact any more.
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00:04:56,159 --> 00:04:57,360
It was much different
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00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,640
than what I grew knowing
about these forests.
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00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:01,920
I studied forestry.
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00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,960
and started my career
the classical way.
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00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,000
I prescribed small clear cuts.
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00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,840
Cut down such beautiful
old Beech trees like these.
103
00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:10,600
and used insecticides.
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00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,520
As a teenager I wanted
to become a conservationist
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00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:14,880
but I started to realize,
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00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,200
that I was in fact
destroying everything.
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00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:19,720
And that wasn't what I wanted.
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00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,520
When I looked at those trees
I found that they didn't
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00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,800
perform that well.
They didn't grow very well.
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00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,320
They were sickly.
They weren't that healthy.
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00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,040
As I became a scientist
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00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,520
after a few years as a forester,
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00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,280
I started to examine why
these trees didn't seem
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00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,080
to grow well when
they were by themselves.
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00:05:46,159 --> 00:05:49,360
I found that when we remove
certain species
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00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,800
of their neighbors that trees
actually became ill.
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They became diseased and more
at risk of insect attack.
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00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,159
I wanted to understand
why that was the case.
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00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:05,200
I thought some of the story
might be going on below ground.
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00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:07,200
What we call a tree
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00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:09,400
is only what is
visible above ground.
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00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:13,120
We consider a tree to consist
only of trunk and crown.
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00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,920
However, the major part of its
life takes place underground.
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00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:19,560
What happens in the forest
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00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,520
is actually more
than what meets the eye.
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00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:23,840
The root system of a tree
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00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,400
can spread as far
as two to four times
128
00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,120
the diameter of its crown.
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00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:29,720
Only scientists
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00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:31,760
with state of the art
research techniques
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00:06:31,840 --> 00:06:34,000
are able to dig
deep enough into this matter
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00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:38,040
to uncover that these roots
are more than only water pipes.
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I started looking at
the root systems
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00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,440
and I found that the roots
of these different species
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00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:43,960
when they grew together,
136
00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,440
Birch and Fir
and Cedar and Hemlock,
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00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:49,240
were all intertwined
and linked together.
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00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,000
I learned later on
through more research
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00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:53,440
as I went into my PhD
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00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,000
that these root systems
actually formed what is called
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00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,440
a Mycorrhizal
Fungal Association.
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00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,400
Mycorrhizal fungi are
certain species of fungi
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00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,000
which associate with all of
the tree species worldwide.
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00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,360
They form a
mutualistic relationship
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00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,080
where the fungus
grows into the root
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00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:13,200
and provides the root
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00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:14,400
with nutrients and water
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00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,240
that the fungus
gathers from the soil.
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00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,240
Mushrooms are only
the fruiting bodies of fungi.
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00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:24,480
Just like apples
are the fruit of apple trees.
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00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,600
Fungi are very
underestimated organisms
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00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,680
because so far most of us
appreciate only the fruit.
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00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:40,280
Fungi can spread
over several square kilo meters.
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00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:42,159
One teaspoon of soil may contain
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00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,640
several kilo meters
of string like hyphae
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that form the
internet of the forest.
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For their services,
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they charge sugar and
other products
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00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,680
of tree photosynthesis.
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The tree shares up to a third
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00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,040
of its total production
with the fungi.
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We found,
when we mapped these forests,
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00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:02,760
that all of the trees were
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00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,200
all linked together
in a single massive network.
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00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,800
So then I thought OK,
if their linked below ground
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00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,120
then what are these
linkages about.
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How does this actually affect
how trees are growing.
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00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,400
We did some more sophisticated
experiments,
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once we knew that
those links were there.
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We labeled one tree
with an isotope
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and traced it from that
tree to its neighbor.
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We found that carbon molecules
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00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,679
were moving
from one tree to another tree
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00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:35,919
through these
mycorrhizal networks.
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00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:37,760
Then we thought
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00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:39,200
if carbon is involved,
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00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,919
maybe there's other molecules
involved as well.
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00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,799
We started labeling trees
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00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:48,120
with Nitrogen and Phosphorus
and deuterated water.
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00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,120
We found that
all of these elements
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00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,400
move back and forth
between the trees.
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That was the rudimentary
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00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,360
understanding of
the language of trees.
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00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:58,840
So these Birch trees here
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00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,120
will be linked
to other Birch trees,
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00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,600
but also to the Douglas Fir
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00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:06,120
and the Hemlock behind it.
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00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,520
You can see their root-systems
coming down there.
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They straight into the ground.
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The mycorrhizal network
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is just below the surface
of the forest floor.
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As you walk,
you are only centimeters
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00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,080
or millimeters away,
walking on top of this network.
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00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,680
The network below ground
can easily be imagined
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00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:26,760
as a market place,
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00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,400
where the food
is either offered or received
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00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,000
by all the trees
that are linked together.
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00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:33,840
But what about competition?
199
00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:35,800
If all are eating
at the same table,
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00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:37,800
then why
don't they steal from each other
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and suck each other dry,
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00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,080
in a struggle
for the survival of the fittest?
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00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,040
Trees of one species
are not competitors.
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00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:47,480
On the contrary,
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They actually support each other
almost unconditionally.
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00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,680
The weak
are supported by the strong.
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00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,760
Only together they can
for example,
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00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:58,680
regulate the micro-climate
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00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:00,720
and lower the air temperature.
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00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,600
Because trees love it
cool and moist.
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00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,200
You can almost call this
Tree Communism.
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00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:09,800
And it functions perfectly,
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00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:11,400
compared to human communism.
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00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:15,280
Here, the individual is not
as important as the community.
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00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:16,800
Trees do care for each other.
216
00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:21,000
We think of that as an
interaction between trees,
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00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:24,840
but really they're
looking after each other.
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00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:28,840
[speaking foreign language]
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00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,480
My Name is Sm'hayetsk.
220
00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:39,120
I'm Teresa Ryan.
I'm Tsimshian.
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00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,120
I'm from the Gitlan tribe
of the Tsimshian.
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00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,080
My house is Xpe Hanaax.
223
00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,360
I'm from
the Ganhada Clan; Raven.
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00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:50,360
My interest in research
is the relationships
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00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,160
of the forests to Salmon.
226
00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,040
I'm a Fisheries Scientist.
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00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,320
A Fisheries Aquatic Ecologist.
228
00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,200
I'm also a Cedar Weaver.
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00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,920
A traditional
Tsimshian Cedar Weaver.
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00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,840
We have an understanding of
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00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,160
these ecosystems around us
232
00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,240
and the relationships of
things within them.
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00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:17,160
In many of our languages we have
234
00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,640
certain words to describe that.
235
00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:26,360
In Sm'algyax
we say "of one heart".
236
00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,880
The Nuu-chah-nulth people
on Vancouver Island
237
00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:34,840
say "Everything is one".
238
00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:38,200
It demonstrates
those relationships
239
00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,600
that we've known
and understood for a long time.
240
00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:43,720
When we
mistake trees for loners,
241
00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:45,840
each of them
growing by themselves,
242
00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,680
oblivious to their neighbors
and to the environment,
243
00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,800
we underestimate them by far.
244
00:11:51,560 --> 00:11:53,280
If forests are actually
245
00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:54,920
not the kind
of harsh environment
246
00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,360
we expect them to be.
247
00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,520
Where competition
determines the survival
248
00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,560
of the strongest,
fastest and toughest,
249
00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:03,200
then maybe a closer look
250
00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,440
might reveal
even further relationships
251
00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,040
that go beyond our expectations.
252
00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,200
The forest industry
wants trees to grow quickly.
253
00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:15,760
Initially trees do
grow quite fast,
254
00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:17,280
when they grow by themselves
255
00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,280
However that is not
what they prefer.
256
00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,000
Normally trees would
rather cuddle
257
00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:22,880
and stand closely together.
258
00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:25,400
They love company
and like to take things slow.
259
00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,440
We need to relearn that trees
do not need to be separated
260
00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:30,200
from alleged competitors.
261
00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,120
On the contrary,
we need to allow them
262
00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,640
to live in tight groups
just as they like it.
263
00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,960
There is in fact
friendship among trees.
264
00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:40,360
It doesn't happen very often
265
00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,240
because tree seedlings
cannot choose
266
00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:43,840
whom they
will be growing next to
267
00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:45,440
for the rest of their lives.
268
00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:46,920
Maybe one out of 50 trees
269
00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,880
will become
friends with its neighbor.
270
00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:50,200
Like these two.
271
00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,640
They grow their branches
away from each other,
272
00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,200
so that they don't interfere.
273
00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,960
Their roots
intertwine intensively.
274
00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,800
It's like an old couple.
If one of them dies
275
00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:06,440
The one
left behind might suffer,
276
00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:08,400
and die soon after.
277
00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:11,520
For a tree,
278
00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,280
it is a disaster when
the social network collapses
279
00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,760
You can observe this
right here in this forest.
280
00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:18,760
Three trees have blown over.
281
00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,880
The remaining tree is now
left by itself and gets sick.
282
00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,720
The tips
of its branches die back.
283
00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:25,440
The leaves
turn earlier in the fall
284
00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:27,800
so it can't
photosynthesize properly
285
00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,200
It really suffers.
286
00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,880
In case it is not able
to reconnect with other trees,
287
00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,080
it will likely die as well.
288
00:13:34,560 --> 00:13:36,600
Do trees have
a sense of friendship?
289
00:13:37,680 --> 00:13:40,640
It's language
that we are using here
290
00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,080
to describe how trees
relate to each other.
291
00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,560
In ecology we call
those things interactions.
292
00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:51,000
Interactions is
a very clinical term.
293
00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,520
When we think
of interactions, we think of:
294
00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,280
Do they help each other?
Do they compete with each other?
295
00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:58,680
Is one a parasite or a pathogen?
296
00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,760
Species interact
in a myriad of ways.
297
00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,240
Some of them are beneficial.
298
00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:06,800
In Science
we call this facilitation.
299
00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,360
In human relations we
call that friendship.
300
00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:13,120
A grove of Maple Trees
with Cedar in it
301
00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:18,080
will indicate to us that
the Cedar has enough moisture.
302
00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,320
It's got the right
moisture regime.
303
00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,320
When Cedar and
Maple are growing together,
304
00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,680
there is a relationship
with those two trees.
305
00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:28,560
So it's just
a matter of language.
306
00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,800
When I think back to
my early work with plantations
307
00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:34,880
and we were
planting single species of trees
308
00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,520
and weeding out the
species we didn't want,
309
00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:39,640
I found that
Douglas Fir would suffer,
310
00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:41,720
when we took Birch away from it.
311
00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:45,840
We were affecting
that facilitation between them.
312
00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,080
The transfer
of Carbon back and forth,
313
00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,920
the nutrition that
the Birch provided for the Fir.
314
00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:54,000
The resistance against
the pathogens in the soil.
315
00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:55,960
When we took the Birch away,
316
00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,160
Douglas Fir lost its friend.
317
00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,000
They lost its facilitator.
318
00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,040
So is there
friendship in forests?
319
00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:03,640
I can use that language.
320
00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:05,600
Sure there is
friendship in forests.
321
00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,480
There are mutualistic
facilitative relationships
322
00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:10,040
going on all the time.
323
00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,600
Tree connections
may form bonds of friendship,
324
00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:15,000
but they
also link each tree
325
00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,120
to all the others over hubs,
326
00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,880
very similar
to a computer network.
327
00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:22,320
Scientists who try to visualize
these connections
328
00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,280
have been creating
complex models
329
00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:25,760
that look like a map.
330
00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,720
A map
of the Wood Wide Web.
331
00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,920
We were also able to identify
by looking at this map,
332
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,600
which trees
were the most important
333
00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:37,680
part of the network.
334
00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:39,800
Which ones were
the most highly linked.
335
00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,880
We found that
the biggest, oldest trees
336
00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,120
were the most highly linked.
337
00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,840
We ended up
calling these Mother Trees,
338
00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,920
because we discovered
through this map,
339
00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,040
that the younger ones
were growing up by
340
00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:54,520
hooking into the network
341
00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,000
and growing up
around these Mother Trees.
342
00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,200
Trees are very social beings.
343
00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:02,280
The parents, the mother trees,
344
00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:04,240
are looking after
their offspring.
345
00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:05,520
Their roots grow together
346
00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,000
and they feed them
with a sugar solution.
347
00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:09,800
One could say that
the mother tree
348
00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:11,880
suckle their offspring.
349
00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,320
To some it may seem strange
comparing the flow
350
00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:16,920
of nutrients between older
trees and their kin
351
00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:18,880
with human relationships.
352
00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:20,840
Analogies like that,
353
00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,440
based on the observations
of a practitioner
354
00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:27,040
should rather stand on a solid
ground of scientific facts.
355
00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,640
At UBC, students from the
faculty of forestry
356
00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,880
conduct basic research
about the relationships
357
00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:36,280
between Mother Trees
and their kin.
358
00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,280
All of our experiments
involve both field
359
00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,360
and greenhouse experiments.
360
00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,360
We use
similar techniques in both,
361
00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,520
to verify what is going
on in the other one.
362
00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:52,040
We go into a Douglas Fir
forest to gather soil.
363
00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,840
That soil has a mixture
of mycorrhizal fungi
364
00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,600
that prefer
to associate with Douglas Fir.
365
00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,760
We use that mixture to
inoculate our trees.
366
00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:05,839
We grow 'Mother trees',
basically seedlings in pots,
367
00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,000
inside mesh-bags.
368
00:17:08,079 --> 00:17:09,920
These mesh-bags
would either allow
369
00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:11,599
the mycorrhizal network to form
370
00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,640
with the neighboring
seedling, or not.
371
00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:16,680
We use mesh-bag
to keep the roots
372
00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:18,839
from going through
and touching each other
373
00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,200
and transferring between roots.
374
00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,880
We want just the fungi
to meet in the middle.
375
00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:27,599
Over a period of a few months,
376
00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:29,320
we allow these two seedlings,
377
00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:30,840
the 'Mother Tree' and her kin,
378
00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:32,400
or the 'Mother Tree'
and the stranger,
379
00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,160
to communicate with each other
380
00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,440
through this mycorrhizal
network that had formed.
381
00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,720
We had to be
able to do the experiment
382
00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:41,760
in the greenhouse,
so we couldn't bring in
383
00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:43,960
a big old Mother Tree and
plant her in a plot.
384
00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:45,200
We had to use seedlings,
385
00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,120
because of the restrictive
environment of a greenhouse.
386
00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,560
The seedling that grew up first
387
00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:56,560
was well established and
had more nutrients
388
00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:00,840
to spare than the one that
was planted later.
389
00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,600
That one that was
previously established
390
00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,280
had more resources
than it needed.
391
00:18:06,360 --> 00:18:09,320
It was able to shuttle
some of those resources
392
00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:13,680
to its little brother that
was growing up next to it.
393
00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,520
The term Mother Tree is
a really nice term
394
00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,160
because we understand
the importance
395
00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,120
of mothers in families.
396
00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,560
It's a term that
resonates with people.
397
00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:30,400
But it's probably not the most
scientifically accurate term.
398
00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,200
What we are really talking
about is relatedness.
399
00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,320
Whether Mother Trees are related
400
00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:39,960
to trees around her or new trees
401
00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,240
that are coming up
in her neighborhood.
402
00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:47,360
It's really about
whether their genetics
403
00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:51,160
are well related
to each other or not.
404
00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,280
Whether they are distant
or close together.
405
00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:55,440
One of the
differential responses was
406
00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,320
when the new seedling,
407
00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,400
the younger sibling if you will,
408
00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,960
was related to
the older seedling.
409
00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:09,960
the big seedling actually
slowed down its growth rate.
410
00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,000
It appeared that
it would make room
411
00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:13,960
for its younger sibling to grow.
412
00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,760
We would label these mother
trees with Carbon 13.
413
00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,520
Which is an isotope
that we injected
414
00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:22,720
into a plastic bag
around the seedling.
415
00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:27,240
That bag completely
seals in the air.
416
00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,800
Then we allow the seedling
to photosynthesize.
417
00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,080
As we apply the treatment,
418
00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:37,240
the seedling is only able
to photosynthesize with 13 CO2.
419
00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,400
Any sugars, any products that
it makes will be labeled.
420
00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:46,160
We then look for that C13
in the recipient plants.
421
00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,000
Remember the recipients are
either kin or stranger.
422
00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:50,400
So we'll look at the ratio
423
00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,080
of the amount of
carbon that is present.
424
00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,840
We bring the pots
into the potting room,
425
00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,840
we clip them and then we
clean all the roots,
426
00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:03,360
we brush-off all the dirt,
we wash them
427
00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,000
and then they are ready
to be morphotyped.
428
00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,200
We do that using a microscope.
429
00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,160
We look for all the fungal
connections on the root-tips.
430
00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,520
After that
they are ready to be dried.
431
00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,200
We do that
in a large drying oven.
432
00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,480
After that
each one of those portions
433
00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:25,120
is frozen separately
using liquid nitrogen.
434
00:20:25,360 --> 00:20:27,440
Then you are able to grind them
435
00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:29,360
using mortar and pestle.
436
00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,120
That creates a powder
437
00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,960
that is weighed
in very small increments.
438
00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:40,720
We send those to the lab
for some micro-spectroscopy.
439
00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:44,680
to evaluate how much
C13 is in the sample.
440
00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:49,680
And we found out that seedlings
that were kin seedlings
441
00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:53,160
were receiving more Carbon
from Mother Trees
442
00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:55,600
than strangers were.
443
00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:59,040
Then it starts
to look like a family.
444
00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:01,720
The Mother Tree
is nurturing her own family
445
00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,640
but she is also looking out
for her whole neighborhood.
446
00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,440
So it's not just a family.
447
00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,760
It's a whole community of trees.
448
00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:14,600
Each with their own role
to play in the forest.
449
00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:16,320
Mothers who care lovingly
450
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,400
for their neighborhood
and their children?
451
00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:19,960
Also Peter Wohlleben
452
00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,240
has a way of expressing
the behaviors of trees
453
00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,120
in a very humanized language.
454
00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,560
When guiding groups of visitors
through his forest,
455
00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:28,520
this helps to make
biological mechanisms
456
00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:30,560
understandable for everyone.
457
00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:32,160
When he talks
about tree families
458
00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:33,640
he goes further by claiming
459
00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,240
that they even
provide a good education.
460
00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:40,480
This a typical
Beech kindergarten.
461
00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,680
Beech trees grow up in groups,
just like this one.
462
00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,160
Parents raise their children
very strictly.
463
00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,480
by limiting the available light.
464
00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,240
Only three percent of
the sunlight reaches the ground.
465
00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,840
So that the small trees need to
stretch to the remaining light.
466
00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,920
The benefit of this is that
they grow straight trunks
467
00:21:58,000 --> 00:21:59,920
Which can resist strong winds.
468
00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,480
However like in any class
or kindergarten,
469
00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,200
there are little rascals
that do as they please.
470
00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:07,200
They grow this way,
they grow that way.
471
00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,840
They think "I don't have to
stretch towards the light"
472
00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:11,600
Slowly their
classmates surpass them
473
00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:13,400
and switch off
the last bit of light
474
00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:15,000
so that they die off.
475
00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:16,920
Eventually,
from this entire bunch
476
00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,840
Only one or two trees
will remain to grow old.
477
00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,440
We discovered that
the Mother Tree
478
00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:24,680
was affecting
how those seedlings grew.
479
00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:28,320
So if we changed the linkages
480
00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:29,920
or we removed them,
481
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,960
those seedlings
would behave differently.
482
00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:35,480
They would either grow worse
483
00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:37,120
or they would grow better.
484
00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,160
What we were
gathering from this:
485
00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:40,960
If the Mother Tree was trying
486
00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,320
to make a favorable place
for her seedlings
487
00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,480
then she would
encourage their growth,
488
00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,520
so send more
nutrients to those seedlings
489
00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,280
and they would grow better.
490
00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,120
If the Mother Tree knew that
491
00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:53,560
the environment around her
492
00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,040
was not very
hospitable for her young,
493
00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:58,000
in other words,
if there were diseases
494
00:22:58,080 --> 00:22:59,240
or insects around,
495
00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,440
she would it make more difficult
for those seedlings to grow.
496
00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:04,280
She would be
antagonistic towards them
497
00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:06,320
or become more competitive.
498
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,920
This said to me that
499
00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:12,400
the Mother Tree was
communicating with her young,
500
00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,520
in order to favor
the survival of those seedlings,
501
00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,080
whether they should be
further away or close to her
502
00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,920
depending on how
favorable the environment was.
503
00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:23,320
We are doing these experiments
504
00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:24,640
out in the forest as well.
505
00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,080
So we'll go to big
old Mother Trees
506
00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,600
and grow seedlings
that are related
507
00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:31,520
or distantly related to her
508
00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:33,200
and see how they perform.
509
00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,040
So we will verify what we are
seeing in the greenhouse
510
00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:38,160
with what's
going on in the forest.
511
00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:40,720
Trees are studied and measured,
512
00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:42,520
cultivated and cut.
513
00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,200
They seem defenseless,
514
00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:46,720
because they can't run
away from any threat.
515
00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:48,040
Some plants however,
516
00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:51,680
have developed amazing skills
to react to attacks.
517
00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,040
The response of this Mimosa
518
00:23:53,120 --> 00:23:54,440
makes it obvious
519
00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,200
that even plants
don't like to be hurt.
520
00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:00,720
Trees have feelings.
521
00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:02,160
They can feel pain.
522
00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,840
But can also
have emotions such as fear.
523
00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:08,720
This is apparent for example,
in this Oak behind us.
524
00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:10,760
It grows these
clusters of twigs.
525
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:12,520
Signs of great distress.
526
00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,160
But the Oak will behave
differently if for example,
527
00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:17,920
attacked by insects
that bore into its bark.
528
00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,480
It would feel pain.
529
00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:21,880
Electrical signals
would run through its fiber
530
00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,360
and the Oak would
accumulate defense substances.
531
00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,840
At the same time
it will alarm its colleagues
532
00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:29,960
via root networks and fungi.
533
00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:32,800
So that they could already
accumulate defense substances
534
00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,080
although they haven't
been attacked yet.
535
00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:38,920
Once the insects arrive,
the other Oaks will be prepared.
536
00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,480
A forest is much healthier
and more resistant
537
00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:46,280
when individual trees
warn the rest of the community.
538
00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:49,200
as soon as they realize
something is wrong.
539
00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:51,240
At the same time
that we were looking
540
00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,480
at Carbon transfer,
or this energy transfer,
541
00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,840
we were also looking at defense
signal transfers
542
00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:58,600
through these
mycorrhizal networks.
543
00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:01,240
It's mysterious that a plant
544
00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:05,800
would leak
these particular compounds
545
00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:07,640
and that a fungus
would pick them up
546
00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,720
and transmit them
through their hyphae
547
00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:13,080
to another plant.
548
00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:14,560
We haven't seen this before,
549
00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:16,200
this flow
of signaling molecules.
550
00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,480
We're trying to figure out
what these signals are.
551
00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:21,320
We have an idea
that there are certain
552
00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:23,240
compounds involved.
553
00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:26,080
What happens is that
the injured seedling
554
00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:27,760
sends defense signals.
555
00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:29,680
The seedling that
receives the signal,
556
00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:31,560
or that piece of communication,
557
00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,280
those words, if you can
think of it that way,
558
00:25:34,360 --> 00:25:37,920
Then they up-regulate
their defense genes.
559
00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,320
Those genes start to produce
more defense enzymes.
560
00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:44,440
Those enzymes increase the
defense of those seedlings
561
00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,080
against the attack
by those insects.
562
00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:50,200
When you are scared,
563
00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:54,200
your body is producing chemicals
564
00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,640
that are telling your whole body
565
00:25:57,760 --> 00:25:59,320
that you are scared.
566
00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:02,320
It's getting your
legs ready to run,
567
00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,800
and your arms ready
to do whatever they need to do.
568
00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:08,400
Those chemicals are specific
for that purpose.
569
00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,080
If those would leak
out of your feet
570
00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,600
and something in the ground,
571
00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:15,040
let's say a fungus,
572
00:26:15,120 --> 00:26:17,360
would pick up those chemicals
573
00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,400
and transmit them
through the ground.
574
00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,520
and someone else standing nearby
575
00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,960
would pick up those chemicals
through their feet
576
00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:26,120
and get scared,
577
00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:27,720
because they would get those
578
00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:29,240
scary chemicals in their body.
579
00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:31,680
That's what we
are looking at with the trees.
580
00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:33,200
This guy gets scared
581
00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,840
it's sending those chemicals
among its own body
582
00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:37,840
and then they go out
into the roots.
583
00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:39,680
The question is,
whether the fungi,
584
00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:42,320
which are an
entirely different organism,
585
00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:43,880
not a tree,
586
00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,240
are moving those chemicals
through the ground.
587
00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,160
and if those are being
picked up by the other trees.
588
00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:52,560
Specifically, I am looking at
589
00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:54,800
defense signals, which I induce
590
00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:56,960
using Western Spruce Budworm
591
00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:58,120
onto Douglas Fir.
592
00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,520
The tree that has the
Western Spruce Budworm
593
00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,600
elicits a response from the tree
594
00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,080
which is sent into
the mycorrhizal network
595
00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:10,000
and gets transferred to
an adjacent seedling
596
00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:12,360
that is attached via a
mycorrhizal network.
597
00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:14,520
Two plants in a pot.
598
00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:16,120
They are Douglas Fir seedlings;
599
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:17,920
which is what we tend to use,
600
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:22,640
they form strong
mycorrhizal networks.
601
00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:25,520
They are planted
inside mesh-bags.
602
00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,640
Those mesh-bags
can either be very small
603
00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:31,600
in their pore-size and block
mycorrhizal networks
604
00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:34,600
or a bit larger and allow
mycorrhizal networks.
605
00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,000
So we compare treatments,
where they are networks
606
00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:38,640
to treatment
where there are not,
607
00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:40,920
and see if that transfer occurs.
608
00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,280
This is where we place
the Spruce Budworms
609
00:27:44,360 --> 00:27:49,360
and entice them to eat these
little budding areas.
610
00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,400
You clip off the branches
611
00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:54,680
and then you dip them
in liquid nitrogen.
612
00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:56,400
You scrape off the needles
613
00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:58,640
and put the stem
in another vile.
614
00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:01,280
You dip it in liquid nitrogen,
615
00:28:01,360 --> 00:28:05,440
because you want to freeze
what is happening.
616
00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:07,360
You measure gene expression
617
00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:08,720
by looking at RNA,
618
00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:12,560
which is a really
short-lived chemical.
619
00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:14,360
It can degrade very quickly.
620
00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:17,280
You want to take it
off the live plant
621
00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:19,640
and dip it in
the liquid nitrogen
622
00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:20,920
as fast as you can.
623
00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,080
The defense signals,
or the warning signals,
624
00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:25,240
are happening really quickly.
625
00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:27,280
So when there is an injury,
626
00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:30,880
there is an almost
instant communication.
627
00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,160
There is an immediate
up-regulation of genes
628
00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:35,520
that increases the defense.
629
00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:39,640
It is actually knowledge
that is being passed on
630
00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,320
from the seedling that is
injured to the new one.
631
00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,040
That knowledge,
is based in wisdom.
632
00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,280
I think of it more
as passing on wisdom.
633
00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:50,880
[BURIAL FOREST]
634
00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:53,960
[♪♪♪]
635
00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:03,240
It's important for a forest
to sustain all its members.
636
00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:05,840
Including old and dying trees.
637
00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:07,640
Even stumps
that you would expect
638
00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:09,280
to have died 100's of years ago
639
00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:11,320
are being kept alive.
640
00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:14,880
Possibly they have stored
memories that they can pass on.
641
00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:18,160
This is an ancient stump,
642
00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:20,000
and it is still alive.
643
00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:22,280
The inner part of the tree,
the hardwood.
644
00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:23,360
Is without life.
645
00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,160
Much like dead bone.
646
00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:28,000
That's why this one
is rotten inside.
647
00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:31,280
In trees,
life is located in the sapwood.
648
00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:32,680
In the cambium,
649
00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:34,440
and in the roots.
650
00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,400
And all of this is
still alive in this one here.
651
00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:38,920
The question is,
652
00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:40,840
how can this be possible?
653
00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:42,600
It doesn't have any more leaves
654
00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:44,440
to photosynthesize
and nourish itself.
655
00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:47,880
Still, it must consume sugar,
otherwise it would die.
656
00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:49,840
The only possible explanation
657
00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:51,400
is that this tree over there
658
00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:53,920
keeps the stump alive
via root connections,
659
00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:55,360
that are running across here.
660
00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:57,240
It appears
very social and touching
661
00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:59,720
that this old stump
is still being nurtured.
662
00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:03,080
The forest's own
nursery home for the elderly.
663
00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,440
When trees are cut,
664
00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,720
fall over or
break over with the wind
665
00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:12,640
the stump continues to live.
666
00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,280
We can tell that it's living,
667
00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:16,760
because the cambium in the bark
668
00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,120
grow over the top of the stump.
669
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:21,040
There is no way it will
grow into a new tree,
670
00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:23,000
because is there is no seed
671
00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:24,800
or there is no
epical meristem there.
672
00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:27,360
The stump is still alive,
673
00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,080
because it's
root systems are grafted
674
00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:31,880
to its neighbors,
675
00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:32,960
or they are linked in
676
00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,080
through their
mycorrhizal networks, or both.
677
00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:37,200
When you have that pathway,
678
00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:40,640
the trees that are
alive around it
679
00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:44,280
are sending Carbon
from the foliage
680
00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:46,160
down into
the root systems of the stump
681
00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:47,920
and keeping that stump alive.
682
00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:51,240
Where does a tree
store its information?
683
00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:54,200
How valuable is such
a stump to the community?
684
00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:57,520
So far, we don't know
where a tree's memory is located
685
00:30:57,600 --> 00:30:59,320
and where it stores experiences.
686
00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:01,080
For example,
687
00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:03,120
droughts that
occurred a long time ago
688
00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:06,560
can influence a tree's behavior
over many years.
689
00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,000
This demonstrates they store
this information somewhere
690
00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,520
It is quite likely that
this storage sits partially
691
00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:15,520
or even entirely in the roots.
692
00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:18,280
An ancient stump like this
might pass on its knowledge
693
00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:20,920
to the neighboring trees
and it's descendants.
694
00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:24,880
It's now known that processes
occur in the root tips
695
00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:27,160
which are quite similar
to those of the brain.
696
00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:30,720
Obviously it is presumptuous
to claim that trees
697
00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:32,640
have a brain just like animals.
698
00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:36,040
However, they make
decisions within seconds
699
00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:38,600
that are partially
processed electrically.
700
00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:41,680
All of this
takes place in the roots.
701
00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,960
So maybe,
we can call this a tree brain.
702
00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:48,080
Through these
various experiments
703
00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:51,200
and our discoveries,
I've started to think about
704
00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:54,600
the root systems
of trees in forests
705
00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:56,680
as the brains of the forest.
706
00:31:56,760 --> 00:31:59,800
There is a number
of reasons for this.
707
00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:03,680
First it's the pattern
of these connections,
708
00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:05,760
the pattern of the network.
709
00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:09,000
When we look
at how it's arranged,
710
00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,480
it's very much like how
a brain is organized.
711
00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:17,640
There are certain
central hubs in forests,
712
00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:19,440
where things
are highly connected.
713
00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:21,200
Then there are satellite nodes,
714
00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:23,040
where things are less connected.
715
00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:24,920
If you look at a neural network,
716
00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:27,680
it's patterned
very much in the same way.
717
00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:34,760
Secondly, the idea that
there are chemicals
718
00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:38,040
that are transmitting from
a mycorrhizal root-tip
719
00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:41,040
or root of one tree through
the mycorrhizal network
720
00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:42,160
to another tree.
721
00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:44,280
This is like in our brains
722
00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:45,800
we have neurotransmitters.
723
00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:47,880
It's not
that much different than
724
00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:52,520
Carbon, Methyl Jasmonate,
Nitrogen and water
725
00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:53,640
moving back and forth
726
00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:55,400
through these
mycorrhizal networks.
727
00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:58,760
There is another part
to the story as well.
728
00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:00,480
In dying Pine forests,
for example,
729
00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:02,920
that are attacked
by Mountain Pine Beetle,
730
00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:07,080
those dying trees affect the
mycorrhizal communities.
731
00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:10,200
Seedlings in healthy forests
732
00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,320
have a better
suite of defense enzymes
733
00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:14,600
than those from dying forests.
734
00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:17,960
We know that it's not
just a Carbon legacy
735
00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:20,560
that is passed on,
it's also messages
736
00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:22,840
about the defense chemistry
737
00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:24,800
of the new seedlings coming up.
738
00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:28,840
We really need
to think more carefully
739
00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:31,120
about how
we manage these dying forests.
740
00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:35,480
We will be dealing with
this more and more.
741
00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:38,880
Tree species will be changing
as the climate changes.
742
00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:40,480
There's going to be a mortality.
743
00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:42,800
Our response has been to
cut those trees down
744
00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:44,440
as quickly as possible,
745
00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:46,640
make them into
two-by-fours and sell them.
746
00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:49,920
You can easily see that
747
00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:52,720
by doing that we're
cutting off the opportunity
748
00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:54,480
for the old trees,
the dying trees,
749
00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:57,440
to pass their legacy onto
the new generations.
750
00:33:57,520 --> 00:33:59,400
When we cut down trees,
751
00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:02,200
not only do we disturb
the micro-climate of the forest,
752
00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:04,760
But also the relationship
between the trees.
753
00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:05,880
They become loners,
754
00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:07,480
and we won't be able to observe
755
00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:10,159
these wonderful
processes anymore.
756
00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:13,120
Managed forests
are a convenient way
757
00:34:13,199 --> 00:34:14,920
to transform
the natural disorder
758
00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,480
into efficient,
fast growing plantations
759
00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:18,920
of rogue trees.
760
00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:20,840
It's getting quiet.
761
00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:23,360
Planted forests don't talk much.
762
00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:28,080
Plantations are like
a group of only children
763
00:34:28,159 --> 00:34:29,880
without parental guidance.
764
00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:33,800
These trees are planted with
clipped and damaged roots.
765
00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:36,280
which results in
disrupted communication.
766
00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:39,080
Along with many
other dysfunctions.
767
00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:45,520
The trees are forced
to fend for themselves.
768
00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:47,560
Which leaves them
more vulnerable.
769
00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:49,560
If a tree suffers,
770
00:34:49,639 --> 00:34:52,159
it won't receive
help from its neighbors.
771
00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:54,280
If one thrives and could share,
772
00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:56,239
It would rather
grow a little faster.
773
00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,200
Which is also not healthy.
774
00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:02,240
In a forest,
speed is always negative.
775
00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:08,800
In Germany there are
no more pristine forests left.
776
00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:11,120
In the past centuries,
numerous activities
777
00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:13,160
took place everywhere
in the forests.
778
00:35:13,240 --> 00:35:16,160
Here for example,
charcoal production took place.
779
00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:19,280
This forest will likely be
very close to natural again,
780
00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:21,280
In about 100 to 200 years.
781
00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:24,560
Only very few places like this
still exist in Germany.
782
00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:26,520
But currently
the forest industry
783
00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,440
is becoming
increasingly radical
784
00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:30,920
and more wood
is being harvested.
785
00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:33,400
Sadly we are
turning back the clock.
786
00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:36,280
[heavy machinery]
787
00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:40,840
These plantations are
increasingly managed
788
00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:42,040
with heavy machinery,
789
00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:44,280
and these machines
compress the soil.
790
00:35:44,360 --> 00:35:46,000
They destroy the pore volume
791
00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:48,240
and life in
the soils suffocates.
792
00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:50,000
This includes also the fungi
793
00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:53,280
which are extremely important
for communication between trees.
794
00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:57,880
Most machines have wide tires
795
00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:01,120
so damage caused is not
so visible on the surface.
796
00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:03,280
However compaction remains
797
00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:05,840
and increases
with the size of the tires.
798
00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:09,040
The soil becomes compacted
down to two meters.
799
00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:11,840
This is comparable to a sponge
that has been squeezed.
800
00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,880
But unlike a sponge,
soil doesn't recover.
801
00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:18,160
Pore size is lost
along with Oxygen content.
802
00:36:18,240 --> 00:36:20,440
Compared to before
in some cases,
803
00:36:20,520 --> 00:36:23,640
only as little as five percent
of the water can be stored.
804
00:36:23,720 --> 00:36:25,680
This is extremely
dangerous for trees
805
00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:27,320
because here,
during summer,
806
00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:30,000
trees depend on
winter precipitation.
807
00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:32,000
And if this can't
be stored anymore,
808
00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:34,480
the trees may
die of thirst during summer.
809
00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:36,600
According to geologists,
810
00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:40,040
soil damage below 20 cm
remains beyond repair
811
00:36:40,120 --> 00:36:42,560
until the next Ice-age.
812
00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:54,640
In horse logging,
813
00:36:54,720 --> 00:36:58,520
harvested stems are first cut
to a maximum of 5 m.
814
00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:01,240
A length that
a horse can handle.
815
00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:04,800
The horse navigates gently
around big and small trees,
816
00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:08,600
and barely causes any damage.
817
00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:17,200
Even today, horse logging
could be done on a large scale.
818
00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:20,040
However most horse loggers
don't find enough work.
819
00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:22,000
Because there isn't
sufficient demand
820
00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:23,360
One could argue that
821
00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:25,800
if all harvesting
were done only with horses
822
00:37:25,920 --> 00:37:28,320
it would exceed
the number of horses available.
823
00:37:28,400 --> 00:37:30,800
That may be true
but when the demand grew,
824
00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:33,880
more people would be motivated
to practice horse logging.
825
00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:36,520
It is a wonderful job that has
already been practiced
826
00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:37,880
For thousands of years.
827
00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:41,160
I am certain that today
it could be just as successful.
828
00:37:41,240 --> 00:37:43,160
Obviously we would
need more personnel
829
00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:44,720
to replace
large machinery.
830
00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:47,280
One harvester
replaces 12 workers.
831
00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:51,000
If we could turn back time,
we could create 12 new jobs.
832
00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:53,480
Interestingly enough,
this pays off.
833
00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:55,880
We earn more
because we preserve the soil
834
00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:57,920
and the forest
is more productive.
835
00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:00,360
It grows more wood
and better quality.
836
00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:02,480
While we generate more jobs.
837
00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:04,440
More money,
more jobs.
838
00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:06,160
I like that.
839
00:38:06,240 --> 00:38:08,680
We didn't treat forests
like families at all.
840
00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:12,920
We've treated them like
rows of corn plants, basically.
841
00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,440
This new understanding
that we suddenly had,
842
00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:19,920
that Mother Trees were linked
to all these seedlings
843
00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:22,880
and other trees below ground
and favoring her kin,
844
00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:25,800
completely turned
the idea of how
845
00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:27,640
we manage forests
upside down.
846
00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:30,000
Now, instead of rows of trees,
847
00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:31,360
it's families of trees.
848
00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:33,880
How you treat a family of trees
849
00:38:33,960 --> 00:38:35,920
is going to be very different
850
00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,000
than how you would treat
individual rows of trees.
851
00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:42,840
As a forester, you like to think
that you are helping the forest.
852
00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:45,160
But in fact,
its comparable to a small child
853
00:38:45,240 --> 00:38:46,840
that fiddles with the clockwork,
854
00:38:46,920 --> 00:38:49,600
thinking that it can make it
run smoother afterwards.
855
00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:52,560
That means we need to
keep out of such an ecosystem
856
00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:53,960
if we want it to function.
857
00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:56,120
We can take something
every once in a while
858
00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:58,040
but once we start
to destroy things
859
00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:01,160
we will eventually reach
a point of no return.
860
00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:03,360
We as humans make great demands.
861
00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:05,160
We want to be
warm during the winter
862
00:39:05,240 --> 00:39:06,960
so we heat our homes with wood.
863
00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:09,080
We want furniture.
We want to use paper.
864
00:39:09,160 --> 00:39:10,680
That's OK,
but obviously
865
00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:13,720
this clashes with the idea
of an intact forest.
866
00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:16,080
We should be aware
that when we use a chainsaw
867
00:39:16,160 --> 00:39:17,760
we can't be doing any good.
868
00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:20,600
We pretty much slaughter a tree.
869
00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:28,000
[chainsaw buzzing]
870
00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:35,240
[giant crash]
871
00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:37,320
As long as there is
a certain limit to it,
872
00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:39,040
the forest will be able to cope.
873
00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:41,720
But if we take too much
it will be destroyed.
874
00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:45,080
What every one of us can do
to take better care of forests,
875
00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:47,680
is simply to reduce consumption.
876
00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:49,840
With over seven billion people,
877
00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:52,920
we can't be
going on at this level.
878
00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:57,840
Is this a survival of
the fittest after all?
879
00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:00,400
We use trees
to provide wood for our homes,
880
00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:04,680
which we then build where
once these trees used to be.
881
00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,600
Our cities grow
and displace the forests.
882
00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:09,480
Have we unwillingly
turned to enemies,
883
00:40:09,560 --> 00:40:11,640
who compete for the same ground?
884
00:40:11,720 --> 00:40:15,000
Is there an alternative
to how we treat forests,
885
00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:16,720
so that we are able to coexist
886
00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:18,920
and preserve what is still left?
887
00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:21,400
In the world of forestry,
888
00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:26,280
foresters generally don't
pay any attention to it.
889
00:40:26,360 --> 00:40:29,160
They either don't know about it
890
00:40:29,240 --> 00:40:34,640
or they're so wrapped up
in the traditional ways
891
00:40:34,720 --> 00:40:35,960
of practicing forestry.
892
00:40:36,040 --> 00:40:41,160
They've become so rigid
in how they do things,
893
00:40:41,240 --> 00:40:44,360
that the idea, that things can
be connected below ground
894
00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:46,840
and therefore, to conserve
those connections
895
00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:49,680
would mean doing forestry
in a very different way.
896
00:40:51,240 --> 00:40:53,400
We need to change terminology.
897
00:40:53,480 --> 00:40:55,920
We shouldn't claim that
we are tending to the forest
898
00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:58,720
when we are in fact
utilizing wood.
899
00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:01,120
Just as a butcher
is not an animal keeper,
900
00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,640
a forester is no forest keeper.
901
00:41:03,720 --> 00:41:06,040
Once we realize that
we always destroy something
902
00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:07,440
when we use a chainsaw,
903
00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:09,920
we might start to treat
the forest more carefully.
904
00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:14,880
I think that there is an
enormous opportunity
905
00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:18,240
to transform
how we practice forestry,
906
00:41:18,320 --> 00:41:21,880
so that our forest
are more wise,
907
00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:24,480
have their language intact,
908
00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:26,560
have their families intact.
909
00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:28,600
They're going to be
around in the future.
910
00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:31,200
Whereas the planted forests
that we are putting back,
911
00:41:31,280 --> 00:41:33,760
where we don't
conserve those features,
912
00:41:33,840 --> 00:41:35,640
or those qualities
of a community,
913
00:41:35,720 --> 00:41:38,320
those ones will be
way more at risk.
914
00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:41,840
Just like if we become
isolated in our societies,
915
00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:43,400
we are more at risk.
916
00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:45,920
It's not any different
than forests.
917
00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:50,360
The municipality of Hümmel,
where I'm a forest ranger.
918
00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:53,000
Has placed all of the
remaining Beech tree forests
919
00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:54,560
under protection.
920
00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:56,520
That's very rare in Germany.
921
00:41:56,600 --> 00:41:59,840
At over 200, these Beech trees
are comparatively old.
922
00:41:59,920 --> 00:42:01,680
Here they can live
their social lives
923
00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:03,760
entirely undisturbed.
924
00:42:03,840 --> 00:42:06,960
Only in forests like this,
can one observe the intact
925
00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:09,000
social life of trees.
926
00:42:09,080 --> 00:42:11,120
It is possible
to manage forests so gently,
927
00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:14,160
that they can emulate
pristine forest processes.
928
00:42:14,240 --> 00:42:17,320
But that means removing only
single trees here and there.
929
00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:20,160
Leaving the rest
of the social community alone.
930
00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:21,720
Planting, tending,
931
00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:23,520
producing great wood qualities.
932
00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:26,000
Trees can manage this
all by themselves.
933
00:42:26,080 --> 00:42:27,520
We can pretty much sit back.
934
00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:32,040
When people hear about
connections below ground
935
00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:35,880
and that there is mothering
going on in forests,
936
00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:38,640
people immediate say:
"Of course,
937
00:42:38,760 --> 00:42:40,160
I see this all the time.
938
00:42:40,240 --> 00:42:42,080
I knew this all the time."
939
00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:45,080
I am so glad
that you've done the science
940
00:42:45,160 --> 00:42:48,680
that validates what I've
always felt about a forest.
941
00:42:48,760 --> 00:42:52,480
To me, that's hugely powerful.
942
00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:55,200
There's already
a sense out there.
943
00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:57,280
We as humans
are part of that forest
944
00:42:57,360 --> 00:42:59,800
and what we're perceiving
is really valuable.
945
00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:02,000
We should be
paying attention to that,
946
00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:03,160
because it's true.
947
00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:05,760
It's true in our hearts
and it's true in the forest.
948
00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:09,880
To me that's
a super important message
949
00:43:09,960 --> 00:43:11,480
that this is a natural fit.
950
00:43:11,560 --> 00:43:13,760
It's a natural fit in forests
951
00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:16,560
and it's a natural fit with how
we interact with forests.
952
00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:18,760
It's something we
can learn from forests
953
00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:22,680
to bring to our own sense
of community and family as well.
954
00:43:23,720 --> 00:43:26,480
Hopefully scientists
like Suzanne Simard
955
00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:28,480
and observers
like Peter Wohlleben
956
00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:31,440
are able to change the
way we look at trees.
957
00:43:31,520 --> 00:43:33,960
Looking at nature has
often helped engineers
958
00:43:34,040 --> 00:43:37,640
to find inspiration for
groundbreaking inventions.
959
00:43:37,720 --> 00:43:40,000
Looking at the forest might
inspire us to live
960
00:43:40,080 --> 00:43:41,840
in a healthy human community
961
00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:45,600
that appreciates the natural
processes surrounding us.
962
00:43:51,160 --> 00:43:53,160
Next time we take
a walk in the forest
963
00:43:53,240 --> 00:43:55,560
and ask ourselves
if trees can talk,
964
00:43:55,640 --> 00:43:58,080
the answer lies
below the surface.
965
00:43:58,160 --> 00:43:59,800
Trees do talk.
966
00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:02,840
What they want to tell us
remains yet to be uncovered.
967
00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:04,800
Maybe all they say is,
968
00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:05,920
"Let us be."
969
00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:07,520
Can you imagine, being a tree
970
00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:09,040
living by yourself?
971
00:44:09,120 --> 00:44:10,440
Without neighbors?
972
00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:12,720
Without others around
to care for you?
973
00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:15,560
Trees don't do well when
they're by themselves.
974
00:44:15,640 --> 00:44:19,880
They blow over,
or they get too much sun
975
00:44:19,960 --> 00:44:21,160
or too much water
976
00:44:21,240 --> 00:44:23,560
or they're more at risk
of getting a disease.
977
00:44:23,640 --> 00:44:25,600
But when they are in a community
978
00:44:25,680 --> 00:44:29,120
and they have neighbors around
that protect them,
979
00:44:29,200 --> 00:44:30,800
they are caring for each other.
980
00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:32,120
They're making sure they
981
00:44:32,200 --> 00:44:34,240
are a productive,
healthy, vibrant,
982
00:44:34,320 --> 00:44:37,440
diverse community of trees.
983
00:44:37,520 --> 00:44:39,160
Families of trees.
984
00:44:41,240 --> 00:44:47,080
[♪♪♪]
72147
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