“In much of the world,
the loss of the moisture recycling from deforestation
is a more imminent threat than global warming”

I think most photographers are inquisitive by nature. There seems to be something in those of us who like to roam with a camera to have broad interests. That is certainly the case for myself. I often read nature books (not really environmental ones), but really just books about being outside, adventures in some natural habitat. That sort of thing. But I came across this book in the Ceilidh Place book shop in Ullapool a few days ago.

‘A Trillion Trees’ is an interesting study of the benefits of trees. It appears that we are still learning much about what trees actually do for our environment other than my simple understanding that they breathe in Co2, and expel oxygen.

It appears that trees are more beneficial than this, and although I have only just started to read the book, I was very interested to find on pages 34 and 35 that the author states that studies have proven that trees are responsible for ‘flying rivers’ of moisture and that they contribute around 40% of the moisture that turns into rain fall.

More interestingly, he says at one point that deforestation in one place in the world can be responsible for droughts experienced in another. I learned that coastal cities do not receive all of their rainfall from the sea, and due to ‘flying rivers’ of moisture generated by forests thousands of miles away, a city in China for instance, may receive its rainfall from the forests of Scandinavia.

On page 35 the author states “In much of the world, the loss of the moisture recycling from deforestation is a more imminent threat than global warming”.

We are also learning through studies in Equador, that trees also emit more than just oxygen into our environment. Gasses, that (to my basic understanding) aid the movement of air currents. There’s a lot to learn it seems.

I think this synopsis of the book sums it up very well:

“That most commonplace thing, a tree, is now our best hope for maintaining a habitable planet. This book explains in accessible, urgent prose the many wondrous workings of trees in making rain, wind, oxygen and habitats for much of life on earth as well as a vision for how we can, and must, reforest the world.” Essential reading for the twenty-first century -- Ben Rawlence

If you’re a nature lover, like to read about the outdoors, enjoy learning as well, then this is a good book.