In this conversation, Dr. Simard shares groundbreaking insights from her scientific research on forest ecosystems, highlighting how trees, fungi, and other elements work together in complex, symbiotic relationships. Through her experiments with isotopes and molecular genetics, Simard realized that trees exchange carbon, nutrients, and water via underground networks formed by fungi. This network came to be known as the “wood wide web,” a finding hugely influential in the scientific community and beyond. She emphasizes that forests function as interconnected communities, not isolated individuals, and that the strongest trees (often the oldest) play a critical role in nurturing the forest by sharing resources with younger trees. She calls these guardians of the forest “mother trees,” forming the title of her authoritative first book, Finding the Mother Tree.
Dr. Simard also discusses the profound connection between ecological health and community resilience, drawing parallels between the cooperative behavior of forests and the need for human societies to collaborate in addressing environmental challenges. She notes that indigenous cultures have long understood these relationships, and Western scientific understanding is just beginning to confirm their insights. Accordingly, she finds some optimism for a more sustainable future. She asserts that when local, community-driven efforts to restore ecosystems are successful, nature rebounds – so long as we give her the chance. Dr. Simard concludes by stressing the importance of integrating both the scientific and spiritual dimensions of our relationship to nature in our work, advocating for a holistic approach that recognizes the wisdom of both modern science and indigenous and spiritual practices.
