Suzanne Simard, a forest ecologist, studies what she calls ‘mother trees.’ What are mother trees, you may ask? Well, they’re defined as tall-growth trees with vast root systems connected to hundreds of other trees via a network of fungi allowing the trees to share both resources and information. Mother trees are a source of a forest’s resilience and renewal in the face of modern stressors such as climate change.
This groundbreaking study has revealed some significantly complex communications and cooperation among trees. For example, a mother tree can even recognize its saplings. They will direct more carbon, nutrients and water to those saplings as needed. Mother trees also support neighbors who are also in distress.
Simard’s work led her to make a revolutionary premise: the forest is a bit like a mutual aid society. She discovered that “the trees are in a web of interdependence, linked by a system of underground channels where they perceive, connect and relate with ancient intricacy and wisdom.” She writes this in her new book, Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest.
This past Sunday was Mother’s Day, a day chosen to celebrate the love and devotion mothers have for their children. These wise old trees, like mothers everywhere, take care of their saplings and their neighbors. The discovery of a mutual network wasn’t appreciated until it was threatened. Unfortunately, that is often the case. Sometimes, mothers aren’t appreciated either, but we will digress.
Here’s what we do know – our economy and our sanity depend on the emotional, intellectual and physical labor of the nurturers, caregivers and organizers that have been both out nation’s emergency backup system and everyday infrastructure. They may not all be mothers or women, but they’re our mother trees.
Our mother trees include healthcare workers, non-profit and grassroots leaders and more. These women are essential hubs for their family and friend groups. They provide support and love just as mother trees provide nutrients and water to their saplings. Building networks of care is a skill that can be found both inside and outside the forest. Simard talks about the correlation between mother figures and mother trees in a TED Talk.
As she says, “We’ve become this tapestry that’s knit together in a tight weave. When one of us stumbles or bends, the others are right there to pick her up.” She goes on, “What I’ve learned from all of this is what my forest was trying to tell me all along. That these connections are crucial to our wellbeing. They are not easily seen, but they’re real”
We are all living proof that mother trees exist not only in the forest but in the world at large. We hope you enjoyed your Mother’s Day and that this article strikes a chord in you. Trees mimic the rest of the world in surprising ways. We learn something new every day and hope to share what we learn with you. Thank you for your readership and support.
