The Wild Trees

[ramapo]

About 25 years ago I visited Muir Woods just north of San Francisco to see the giant redwoods.
Of course I was impressed by their size and age but neither I nor any scientist then had any idea of the complex ecosystem that existed atop these trees.

Richard Preston, best known for his books on ebola and smallpox, has written a fascinating account of the discovery of life in the canopies of the remaining redwood forests. It is absolutely amazing that significant areas of the redwood forests of California and Oregon had gone unexplored up until the 1990s but it is true. It was then not experienced biologists and ecologists who made the incredible discoveries of the past 15 years but rather young, and tree-obsessed, explorers searching for the world's tallest tree.

Preston describes how a small group of dedicated tree climbers discovered a world hundreds of feet above the ground. I was astounded to learn that the giant redwoods have many trunks that branch out in a tangle of growth that supports, among other things, large stands of berry bushes. Preston himself became one of the explorers, winning the respect of those he was writing about.

Sadly, he tells how nearly all the redwoods are gone now. Miles and miles of majestic trees, many hundreds of years old, were destroyed over the past hundred years, many in a fit of greed just before Jimmy Carter signed legislation enlarging the redwood parks.

My only complaint was the Preston did not include any pictures in the book but his website has many.

This is a very enjoyable and fascinating book. I highly recommend it for a summer read.

[keithjx]

1. He was on the Daily Show

a little while back, talking about this book. Very cool. I definitely want to read it. Thanks for the insight.
KJ

[mike_c]

2. I'll second that rec...

...although it was a bit strange for me-- I work with Steve and Marie (and was a participant in some of the events described in the book) so some of Preston's descriptions were of events that were definitely in the background for most of us at the time, LOL. I'm sure you'll recognize some of those!

It is a good book.

[tabatha]

3. Do you have alink to that review? Thanks. n/t

[rwork]

4. The same thing

is happening in the Tongass Forest in So.East Alaska, since bush* signed off on clear cutting.

[ramapo]

5. No respect

The lack of respect for life is astounding, especially if there is money to be made.

[Sequoia]

6. Rather lame not to include photographs.

Those guys at Bohemian Resort in Monte Rio want to cut down the ancient trees too.

[ramapo]

7. Photos on Preston's website

I was disappointed too by the lack of photographs in the book but he has some good ones posted.