The Great Tree Story

How Forests Have Shaped Our World

Levison Wood

$59.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Gaia Books Ltd
14 October 2025

Forests, rainforests; Deforestation; Trees, wildflowers & plants

'A thrilling journey of discovery' -- Tristan Gooley, author of How to Read a Tree

'Levison Wood has done the impossible. To tell the story of trees in a single book is a Herculean task, but one that he has resoundingly achieved.' -- Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, author of Our Oaken Bones

'A thrilling, moving, and convincing journey through the life of trees.' -- Will Storr, author of The Status Game

'This powerful book brims with curiosity, original thought, and cutting-edge research, but amidst the wonder, you can also hear the haunting 'cry' of the natural world.' -- Sophy Roberts, The Lost Pianos of Siberia

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.

By: Levison Wood
Imprint: Gaia Books Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 158mm, Spine: 36mm
Weight: 545g
ISBN: 9781856755610
ISBN 10: 1856755614
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 14 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

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. www.levisonwood.com instagram.com/levison.wood twitter.com/levisonwood

Reviews for The Great Tree Story: How Forests Have Shaped Our World

Levison Wood has done the impossible. To tell the story of trees in a single book is a Herculean task, but one that he has resoundingly achieved. -- Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, author of Our Oaken Bones Levison Wood is a great adventurer and a wonderful storyteller. -- Sir Ranulph Fiennes Britain's best-loved adventurer. * The Times * A thrilling, moving, and convincing journey through the life of trees. -- Will Storr, author of The Status Game This powerful book brims with curiosity, original thought, and cutting-edge research, but amidst the wonder, you can also hear the haunting 'cry' of the natural world. -- Sophy Roberts, The Lost Pianos of Siberia