How trees talk to each other | Suzanne Simard

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Published 2016-08-30
"A forest is much more than what you see," says ecologist Suzanne Simard. Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an astounding discovery — trees talk, often and over vast distances. Learn more about the harmonious yet complicated social lives of trees and prepare to see the natural world with new eyes.

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All Comments (21)
  • I got this tree down the bottom of my garden and I got to put a cabin down there and people say cut it so you got more space, but I won't because the tree was there first and earned the right to be there. So I'm building round it. Our silent guardians 😎 🌲
  • @Hugatree1
    As children we are drawn to trees, to climb them, sit and fall asleep under them, play in their beloved leaves. 👍🙏👍🙏 to all the tree huggers out there!
  • this i true. Trees communicate to each other. The year when my mom in law passed away, all the trees in her garden seemed to mourn too. That year, her Japanese Cherry Blossom did not bloom, her plums, apple and cherry trees bear not single fruit. It made me convince that they might be sad too. who knows.
  • @aartig.5143
    Trees have souls. They've been living for millions of years, and that's because they share, they care and they cooperate and they're amazingly helpful to other organisms. They're the producers; the food pyramid starts from them, they're the ones other organisms eat up, but they're the only one living this long and peacefully.
  • @seamus9305
    Walking through the woods of New England, I notice the roots of the White Pines wrap over, under and around the nearby trees. They weave over other species like the Maples and Red Pine. When the strong winds blow they hold each other down. Amazing video, thanks. Amazing
  • @Lorabliss
    I talk with trees and flowers in my garden every morning. I have this habit from my childhood, when I played and talked with trees and felt very happy...
  • I lived on the island of Penang for years. Much appreciation and respect for all life. Illegal to cut down a tree, no toxic pesticides, weed killers, cleaning products. No homeless people, a great respect for personal diversities, animals. A different way of living. All of life is connected. Cooperation vs. competition. Namaste.
  • I have a 20 yr old indoor Norfolk Pine tree who I tremendously adore. She stands in a window, my neighbors thought she was fake , meanwhile, I’d never been a green thumb (but I want to be because now I know better.) I did know to give her love and attention besides water, play music for her and talk to her using loving compliments (and bigger Pots as the years went by. ) the love and energy I get from her (named her Heather, out of the blue) is so pure and bright. Jam packed with unconditional love. My love for her is the same. It’s a beautiful world because nature is exquisite. and like another commenter wrote: it’s completely free.
  • @dominotr
    I'm reminded of the forest in Avatar, and it's complexities and sentience. Brilliant talk, and researcher. thanks. All my life I've loved trees. I've had a connection with them my whole life. Their whispers carried in the wind, sometimes I like to think, their laughter, as well. There is magic in trees, very old forgotten magic and if we listen quietly, with reverence, they'll awake it in us as well.
  • Very fascinating. I chose to watch this video because my house is right next to a nature park full of trees where I walk my dogs. A few weeks ago, the city chopped down one of the trees because a neighbour was complaining that its branch was interfering with his backyard. Such a drastic measure for such a minuscule problem. Now every time I take my dogs to the park, I see the trunk where that tree stood. It's very sad, and wondered if the other trees around it also miss it. Now I know, Thank you Suzanne.
  • @user-ho8dj9qf4x
    I am a student of university in Japan.🇯🇵(I know my English is terrible, but please read with gentle mind😢) One of course is forest in my university like this talk. However I cannot decide which course I major, I am very interested in forest. Thanks for your reading my terrible comments. 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️
  • @timheartwood
    I love how she explains the science with personal, real life stories. She's not only a great ecologist, she's a great speaker and a friendly human being.
  • @bg9217
    Thank God for people like her. I wish everyone in the world would see this video.💕💕😍
  • @jetw9522
    I always feel trees can talk. But never know how they talk. And I don't want people think that I'm crazy. Now I'm so glad that I'm not the only one feel this way. This lady is amazing! Great speech!
  • @blakef.8566
    When I feel lost, I always know that I can find my way again by visiting the woods. Trees offer us guidance and we can not continue to continue our ignorance of this fact.
  • @JBoney-bi8lh
    We watched this during my lab class and I honestly got a bit emotional at some parts. Learning about these systems is amazing, no one expects trees to be so complex. We must protect them for many more reasons than one!
  • @teburt4332
    This was profound. I've always believed that even rocks had a sensitivity to an energy network, but this - this touched me so deeply, I'll never look at any plant the same. My yard - becomes my world. Call me a tree hugger. It's not an insult. It's the deepest compliment you can give.
  • @cre8lite11
    I haven't had time to view this video yet but just from the title, I had an experience about 1971 that changed my life: I was hitchhiking from SaNta Barbara to Canada for the first time. On the way, I was picked up by a man who took me and some other hitchhikers to Bothell wash. So I could spend the night and cross the border the next day. That night everyone was talking and I slipped out to go for a walk and get some peace and quiet. I had never seen such tall pine trees in my life before! I could see inside the trees, the water and sap moving. I could tell they were very young trees comparatively. Then when a car would go by they reacted with great sorrow and were trying to tell me this; The cars were toxic to them so were making them sad... I had never experienced anything like this before, although I had heard about cleve Backster & his experiments with plants.. This really change my life! Many years later I talked to Julia butterfly on her cell phone when she was up in her tree, I told her about this experience. I feel so happy that I can communicate with trees now, we can learn to hear them if we just listen. It reminds me of a line in an early Joni Mitchell song. And a line in the poem I wrote when I was young: " The ocean spoke up, from the bottom of the floor, the tree branches nodded, knowing the score."
  • @leesadyal7938
    I have a favorite tree out in the forest on a trail I hike. It speaks to my heart. I touch it and it feels my vibrations of well-being and I feel it also. We are one at that moment.
  • @AsceticCommando
    As a biology student. This is such an inspiring and motivating presentation. A woman making a discovery that changes the way we look at the world and how we will try to nurture it. She's truly fantastic in her own right.