Great Tree Story by Levison Wood

‘Levison Wood is a great adventurer and a wonderful storyteller.’ Sir Ranulph Fiennes

‘Britain’s best-loved adventurer… he looks like a man who will stare danger in the face and soak up a lot of pain without complaint.’ The Times

Levison Wood has spent a lifetime exploring wild places and witnessing environmental challenges and conservation efforts around the world. Now, he’s delving into the incredible world of forests. In this global investigation, The Great Tree Story explores the profound influence forests have had on our planet and civilisation. Each chapter digs into a different aspect of this relationship, from the evolutionary history of trees and their cultural significance in ancient civilisations, to the impacts of agriculture, colonisation, and the industrial revolution on forest ecosystems. The book highlights the wisdom of indigenous communities in forest stewardship, examines the environmental movement’s efforts to protect forests, and analyses the causes and consequences of deforestation and environmental degradation.

Forests are integral components of the global ecosystem. They serve as complex habitats for flora and fauna, supporting a delicate web of interdependence that we have only scratched the surface of understanding. Every organism, from the towering trees to the smallest insects, plays a crucial role in maintaining the biodiversity that sustains our planet. The intricate relationships woven within forests are not to be underestimated, for they are the threads that hold our world together.

In this compelling weaving of fascinating anecdotes and in-depth research, Wood contemplates the future of forests, emphasising the importance of collective action and individual responsibility in preserving these vital ecosystems.

A global exploration into the profound influence forests have had on our planet and civilisation.

About the Author: Levison Wood is a bestselling author, photographer and explorer. He has written seven other books: Walking the Nile and Walking the Americas (both Sunday Times bestsellers), Walking the Himalayas (Adventure Travel Book of the Year at the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards), Arabia, Eastern Horizons, The Last Giants and the children’s book, Incredible Journeys. His six television series to date have been broadcast and distributed in over a hundred countries worldwide. Wood served for several years as an Officer in the British Parachute Regiment, including an operational deployment to Afghanistan where he fought against Taliban insurgents in Helmand and Kandahar. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club, a visiting Fellow at CASS business school, and he has been a Leica ambassador since 2014.

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10 Apr 2025
 

The Great Tree Story: How Forests Have Shaped Our World by Levison Wood ISBN 9781856755627