Nature's internet: how trees talk to each other in a healthy forest | Suzanne Simard | TEDxSeattle

Summary

This talk highlights the interconnectedness of humans, nature, and ecosystems, drawing on Indigenous knowledge and modern scientific discoveries. The speaker shares her personal journey, from growing up in a logging family to becoming a forest scientist. She reveals how trees and forests communicate through intricate fungal networks, supporting each other in times of stress. Emphasizing the importance of reciprocity and mutual respect in ecosystems, the speaker calls for a shift in our relationship with nature, urging us to recognize that we are deeply connected to the natural world and its resilience depends on us.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Coast Salish people have lived in harmony with nature for thousands of years, emphasizing interconnectedness with each other and the environment.
• 🍃 Western science has often ignored the spiritual connection to nature, focusing instead on exact measurements and quantifiable data.
• 🌲 Mycorrhizal networks connect trees underground, allowing the transfer of carbon, nutrients, and water between different species.
• 🌱 Mother trees play a vital role in nurturing younger trees, especially their kin, by sending them essential nutrients through these networks.
• 🌳 Trees in these networks communicate with each other, even sending defense signals when one is under stress or diseased, promoting overall forest health.
• 🔬 Despite initial criticism, the speaker's groundbreaking research on tree communication has reshaped scientific understanding of forest ecosystems.
• 🐻 Indigenous knowledge and forest science both highlight the importance of reciprocal relationships in ecosystems, such as between trees, animals, and salmon.
• ⚖️ Complex adaptive systems, like forests, maintain balance through interconnected relationships, but removing key parts (like bears or salmon) leads to ecological collapse.
• 💪 The speaker’s battle with cancer strengthened her understanding of the importance of support networks, paralleling the interconnectedness seen in forests.
• 💡 To combat climate change, the solution lies in reimagining our relationship with nature, fostering respect, reciprocity, and recognizing that we are deeply connected to the natural world.

Q & A

What is the central message of the Coast Salish people's saying, 'We are one'?

The Coast Salish people's saying 'We are one' emphasizes the deep connection between humans and nature, highlighting that we are part of the same ecosystem and what we do to the Earth affects the web of life.

How does the speaker's background in forestry contribute to her understanding of nature?

The speaker grew up in a family of loggers and later pursued forestry studies to understand forests more deeply. This background, combined with her scientific research, helped her realize the intricate connections in forests and the importance of respecting natural systems.

What role do mycorrhizal fungi play in the forest ecosystem according to the speaker?

Mycorrhizal fungi form a network that connects trees underground, allowing them to exchange nutrients like carbon and water. This symbiotic relationship helps trees support one another, especially in times of stress.

What did the speaker discover about the relationship between birch and fir trees?

The speaker discovered that birch trees can transfer carbon to fir trees when they are shaded or under stress, demonstrating an interconnected relationship that enhances the survival and health of the fir trees.

What significance does the concept of 'mother trees' have in the speaker's research?

'Mother trees' are older, larger trees in a forest that serve as central hubs in the mycorrhizal network. They nurture younger seedlings by transferring nutrients and helping them grow, illustrating the importance of maintaining these trees for forest health.

How does the speaker relate her research on forests to dealing with climate change?

The speaker believes that the interconnectedness in forests, as seen through the mycorrhizal networks, provides a model for addressing climate change. By recognizing our own interdependence with nature and fostering reciprocal relationships, we can develop more sustainable solutions.

What challenges did the speaker face after publishing her groundbreaking research?

After publishing her research, the speaker faced significant criticism and attempts to discredit her work. Her research was called 'a dog's breakfast,' and she received a professional ethics letter in her file. Despite this, she stood by her science.

How did the speaker’s experience with cancer affect her perspective on connection?

The speaker’s cancer experience strengthened her belief in the power of connections. She saw how her family and fellow cancer survivors supported her, which mirrored the mutual support systems she observed in nature. This reinforced her understanding that connection is crucial to both human and ecological well-being.

How does the speaker view Western science's approach to nature compared to Indigenous knowledge?

The speaker contrasts Western science’s focus on exact measurements and visible proof with Indigenous knowledge systems like those of the Coast Salish people, which are based on faith, respect, and understanding the interconnectedness of nature. She argues that both perspectives are valuable, and Indigenous practices often align closely with scientific findings about ecological balance.

What does the speaker mean by 'complex adaptive systems' in the context of forests?

The speaker refers to forests as 'complex adaptive systems,' meaning they are networks of interrelated species that adapt to changes and stressors through their interactions. These systems are resilient and capable of maintaining balance, but when key parts are removed, such as the loss of certain species, they degrade into less stable, unpredictable states.