Lessons for soil from the mother tree and how trees communicate | Suzanne Simard | Nobel Conference

Dr. Suzanne Simard presenting at the 54th annual Nobel Conference (Living Soils: A Universe Underfoot) at Gustavus Adolphus College in 2018.

Simard is Professor of Forest Ecology, University of British Columbia, featured in the documentary “Intelligent Trees.”

Simard introduced the concept of a “mother tree,” the hub of a network of trees that communicate with each other through mycorrhizal relationships--connections facilitated by microscopic fungi in the soil. Simard discusses her own scientific journey to understand how trees use these relationships to communicate about food sources, and about pests and other dangers. She also shares lessons for the soil from the mother tree: balance, awareness, connection, respect, reciprocity, kinship, responsibility, complexity and resilience.


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