[MAIPC] review of The Hidden Life of Trees

Fri Feb 8 08:00:49 PST 2019

What is incredibly interesting and true about the topics and patterns that the book covers is that there are myriad connections, literal physical connections, among different plants in various ecosystems. We are finding out new things about them all the time. There is even really cool research about kin recognition in plants. Amazing! But the patterns of movement of resources between plants is often much more consistently and accurately explained by passive source-sink dynamics or parasitism and theft than kindly donations from good heart-wooded neighbors.

I will also add that, in my view, these topics are incredibly relevant (interacting plants and people’s perception of them) to our work in dealing with invasive species.

—

Norris Z. Muth, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Biology

Office: 814-641-3632 | 1054 VLB

Juniata College

1700 Moore Street

Huntingdon, PA 16652

muthlab.org<http://muthlab.org> | NativePlantAdvocate.org<http://NativePlantAdvocate.org>

From: "Bud Earl Reaves Jr." <ipreav00 at aacounty.org<mailto:ipreav00 at aacounty.org>>
Date: Friday, February 8, 2019 at 10:44 AM
To: Jil Swearingen <jilswearingen at gmail.com<mailto:jilswearingen at gmail.com>>
Cc: "INVASIVES at LISTSERV.UMD.EDU<mailto:INVASIVES at LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>" <INVASIVES at listserv.umd.edu<mailto:INVASIVES at listserv.umd.edu>>, MAIPC Listserve <maipc at lists.maipc.org<mailto:maipc at lists.maipc.org>>
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] review of The Hidden Life of Trees

I haven't read the book yet but get numerous comments asking if the assertions are true. I have a copy and will read it when I get a chance.  I can lend it afterward\before to you Jil.   Stephen appears to have made a thorough review of the book and I don't expect I will come to different conclusions.

Earl "Bud" Reaves, CF
County Forester
SAF Certified Forester, MD Licensed Forester, ISA Certified ArboristÒ,
2664 Riva Road    MS #6201
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410.222.6707
Anne Arundel Weed Resistance<https://www.anne-arundel-weed-resistance.org/>
Maryland Invasive Species Council<http://www.mdinvasivesp.org/index.html>
Emerald Ash Borer Info<http://www.emeraldashborer.info/index.cfm#sthash.YlSBwhCI.dpbs>

On Fri, Feb 8, 2019 at 10:35 AM Jil Swearingen <jilswearingen at gmail.com<mailto:jilswearingen at gmail.com>> wrote:
Stephen,

I appreciate you bringing this to my/our attention and for taking quick action to provide a counter-point review. It is so unfortunate and unhelpful that people like Wohlleben, who lack a real understanding of the invasive species issue, spend time confusing things and Disney-fying the issue based on non-scientific personal beliefs and fantasies. These invasive species deniers need to be called out and challenged, just like climate change deniers.

I have not read the book and won't buy it. I'll see if I can get a copy at our library.

Thanks again,

Jil

.......................
Jil Swearingen
Invasive Species Consultant
In the Weeds
410-200-7085

On Fri, Feb 8, 2019 at 10:05 AM Kirsten Johnson <kirsten2622 at comcast.net<mailto:kirsten2622 at comcast.net>> wrote:

I agree with Stephen. I was very disappointed in this book, which has received a lot of acclaim, but unfortunately (as far as I can tell) not much knowledgeable criticism.

Kirsten

On Feb 8, 2019, at 9:31 AM, Muth, Norris (MUTH) <MUTH at juniata.edu<mailto:MUTH at juniata.edu>> wrote:

Thank you Stephen for an excellent review of a rather unfortunate work of fiction posing as fact. I don’t say lightly that I think this book, which has the appearance of being favorable to environmental protection, actually threatens support for environmental protection in the long run. Regardless of its intent, it would have us replace the hard–earned scientific rationales which form the often rough and impersonal foundation of the modern environmental movement with elegant pillars of spun sugar.

Norris
—
Norris Z. Muth, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biology
Office: 814-641-3632 | 1054 VLB
Juniata College
1700 Moore Street
Huntingdon, PA 16652

muthlab.org<http://muthlab.org/> | NativePlantAdvocate.org<http://nativeplantadvocate.org/>

From: Stephen Hiltner <stevehiltner at gmail.com<mailto:stevehiltner at gmail.com>>
Date: Friday, February 8, 2019 at 7:28 AM
To: MAIPC Listserve <maipc at lists.maipc.org<mailto:maipc at lists.maipc.org>>, "INVASIVES at LISTSERV.UMD.EDU<mailto:INVASIVES at LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>" <INVASIVES at listserv.umd.edu<mailto:INVASIVES at listserv.umd.edu>>
Subject: [MAIPC] review of The Hidden Life of Trees

Like the books that deny the problem of invasive species, The Hidden Life of Trees is written by a non-scientist and was reviewed most prominently in the mainstream media by non-scientists. It was a best seller first in Germany, then in the US. I first heard about it while serving on an advisory committee for local sustainability, where a member of our shade tree commission started talking about mama trees and baby trees. Then a friend gave me a copy, and I started digging into it a bit. It's amazing how a book that's such a mix of information and misinformation can garner such positive reviews.

I decided to write my own review that details some of the problematic aspects, including a mishmash chapter on invasive species:
https://newscompanion.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-hidden-life-of-trees-review.html

It would be interesting to hear others' views of the book, and encounters with people who had read it.

Steve
PrincetonNatureNotes.org<http://princetonnaturenotes.org/>

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