World Book Day 2025: ‘Treewilding’ by Jake M. Robinson
- Issy Copps
- Mar 6
- 9 min read
Issy Copps discusses ‘Treewilding’ from author and microbial ecologist Jake M. Robinson, encouraging people to connect with the natural world for a more environmentally conscious future.
With thanks to Pelagic Publishing for the provision of a review copy, and Jake M. Robinson for the images included in this article.
‘Treewilding’ is Robinson’s second book, published in August 2024. Image Credit: Jake M. Robinson
Amongst the most powerful tools in becoming more environmentally conscious is knowledge. To have a deeper understanding of pioneering science and discovery, conservation crises - and what is being put in place to mitigate these issues - is to have greater awareness of how you as an individual may be able to help. ‘Treewilding’ is a wonderful representation of not only how essential an understanding of climate and environmental science is to conservation but of how it must extend to all disciplines.
Robinson offers interesting overviews of the evolutionary history, ecology, biology and biogeography of trees - and a number of other plant species - and how their conservation benefits not just plants but also the animal species, including us humans, that are reliant on them as habitats and providers of ecosystem service. Restoration and conservation can, and must, be reciprocal.
Jake. M. Robinson works primarily as a microbial ecologist, where his research centres around (but is not limited to) the action, impact and significance of microbial communities in both natural (namely woodland) and urban ecosystems. ‘Treewilding’ is his second book, with his first ‘Invisible Friends’ centered around the importance of microbes and maintaining the health and functioning of microbiomes. ‘Treewilding’ takes a look at broader ecosystem dynamics and how grand tree species, shrub undergrowth, underground root and fungal networks, and microbiomes in the soil may all be interacting and potentially communicating.
Completing his PhD at the University of Sheffield in 2021, Jake studies ecosystems, microbes, and biodiversity-health connections. He has since founded The Aerobiome Innovation and Research Hub, to investigate the aerobiome of life. Image Credit: Jake M. Robinson
He emphasises the importance of social sciences, literature, the arts and culture in building interest and investment in the natural world and conservation. People are more likely to fight to conserve something they see, know, interact with, and care about. Robinson discusses enthusiastic hope for pioneering scientific developments in new fields, like acoustic ecology and epigenetics, and how when combined with traditional cultural - particularly indigenous - approaches, they may likely form the multidisciplinary solution to many conservation issues.
Studying ecology and conservation myself, the science is always likely to capture my attention most. Robinson delves into the fundamental meanings of plants and forests and the breadth of complex interactions occurring within them. Definitions of trees in language traces as far back as 4000 years ago in the Proto-Indo-European language, holding meanings like ‘steadfast’ and ‘strong’.
Part One of ‘Treewilding’ journeys through plant evolution across geological time - from primordial green algal structures, to early vascular plant pioneers all the way through to the emergence of the first tree-like plants in the Devonian period and angiosperms in late Jurassic. It’s a very effective summary, introducing interesting concepts of plant-animal coevolution and the development of pollination, which eager readers are encouraged to delve into and research further.
Robinson also details plant biology and physiology, and the ecosystem services we benefit from as a result. Ecosystem services refer to benefits provided to humans from ecosystems, as a result of their functioning, from carbon sequestering to nutrient cycling and even commercial products. He also emphasises the importance of paying attention in urban environments. According to Robinson, we can reap the benefits of urban trees in more urban nature, but also in the complex environmental cooling effect they provide through transpiration of water.
I was excited to see mention of one of my favourite scientists and her work - forest ecologist Dr Suzanne Simard. Her book, ‘Finding the Mother Tree’, is an essential read for those interested in the complexities of plant and forest ecology. Simard’s research, and much work following, on the concept of the ‘wood wide web’ suggests there is complex communication occurring underground through interconnected root and fungal networks, called mycorrhizae. Research has shown that plants may be capable of sharing resources, recognition of relatives and potentially altruistic behaviours and warning signals, all via these underground networks.
Developed by Dr Suzanne Simard, the theory of the ‘wood wide web’ indicates that trees can communicate through networks of root and fungal networks beneath the soil. It’s a concept that Robinson pays homage to in his book. Image Credits: NASTER, via Pixabay.
Robinson also discusses other scientific theories surrounding potential symbiotic relationships between animal and plant species. Jays, known to cache and store the acorns of oak trees in warmer months in preparation for the winter, are most often thought to assist in the spread of young oaks by distributing and burying caches, and then forgetting to collect from all the cache sites. He suggests a theory that the abandonment of some cache sites may be intentional and an altruistic behaviour coevolved between jays and Cork oak trees in native Asia.
Cork oaks mature earlier than most oaks and produce acorns within the average lifespan of jays, suggesting the theory that jays may be planting these acorns as a means of continuing the food source for future generations. Though minimal in evidence compared to the previous theory (of jays simply forgetting caches!), this is amongst many interesting theories and alternative ways of thinking about ecological interactions and dynamics proposed by Robinson over the course of the book’s chapters.
With books on conservation comes - of course - the obligation to speak about problematic (sometimes well-meaning, sometimes not) ‘environmentalist’ schemes. Greenwashing is one such issue, referring to the misrepresentation of businesses and corporations as environmentally conscious, whether through advertising and press, or investment in under-researched, misguided conservation measures. Companies notorious for directly harmful practices will preach the importance of environmentalism and clean, natural approaches, but often have minimal evidence to back their claims of being eco-conscious.
Often, they funnel more money into green advertising than they do actually living up to their claims and acting in the interests of the environment. Four years ago, COP26 (the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties) saw Indigenous populations calling for the elimination of ill-researched ‘offset schemes’, branding them a “new form of colonialism” thanks to their disregard, and in some cases displacement, of Indigenous peoples. Their people and land are (and continue to be) exploited, pushed to cooperate with Western ideals of wildlife and ecological conservation.
Robinson makes an effort through the book to emphasise the importance of listening to, and taking advice from, Indigenous populations on the management of land and habitats as opposed to forcing upon them schemes and ideas from the Western world. Such schemes can ignore their traditional (and often optimal) practices, which they have used to live on the land for thousands of years. He advocates for the integration of all disciplines when designing conservation strategies, so that both wildlife and people can benefit from the practice.
Drawing attention to important organisations, like the MEMBRA Project and their ‘Walking Forest Creative Engagement Kit’, Robinson encourages this mixed-discipline approach, integrating creativity, literature and the arts into conservation science. Projects like MEMBRA are crucial not only to finding solutions for conservation issues, but for stimulating public engagement. Scientific reading often feels intimidating, but Robinson aims to assure people that studying a complex scientific discipline is not the singular route to getting involved in conservation; rather, a multidisciplinary approach is much more valuable and likely to achieve optimal solutions.
Robinson delves more deeply into research of land management and restoration - an area I was eager to learn more about. He discusses a number of worldwide approaches to restoration, plus more ethical and conservation-minded land use - from agroforestry to intercropping and natural restoration. Robinson remembers an interview with farmer and educator Klaus Lotz-Keegan, on how he developed his mentor Ernst Götsch’s ecologically-minded farming techniques and applied them to his land to maximise both crop productivity and biodiversity. By planting and intercropping species in space and time, which is maximally beneficial to them and their growth and maintenance, the land can thrive.
In a chapter dedicated entirely to their use and application, Robinson discusses Miyawaki forests, a technique of forest restoration pioneered by late Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. They rely on a more intensive understanding of historical ecology and vegetation assemblages, and the replication of these factors in plantations to maximise their success and sustainability in the long-term. Though Robinson notes the Miyawaki forests' variable success globally, it is undeniable that bringing attention to and encouraging new scientific and conservation developments is key to managing our land for the future.
Conservation advancements cannot be addressed without also addressing their corresponding crises and issues, a fact that Robinson makes clear throughout the book. Habitat destruction and degradation continue, as Robinson cites research suggesting that 95% of land on Earth is predicted to be impacted by destruction and degradation by 2050 (Yu et al., 2020). Important habitats for wildlife are cleared for commercial product production, use in agriculture, industrialisation and drilling for fossil fuels.
Deforestation is a major threat to tropical rainforests across the globe. 95% of land on Earth is predicted to be impacted by deforestation, destruction, and degradation by 2050 (Yu et al., 2020). Image Credits: stokpic, via Pixabay.
Deforestation in favour of the planting of industrial crop monocultures is resulting in the mass-clearing of huge areas of viable habitat, which not only leaves residing species without homes, but also increases fragmentation of patches that can be detrimental to wildlife by reducing capacity for movement between patches. This can often have dire effects on the population's genetic diversity, increasing the risk of inbreeding and local extinction.
Biodiversity loss also results in significant consequences for human populations. As mentioned, there are a number of critical ecosystem services we rely on trees and nature for. A lack of protection for these important species, ecosystems and habitats, will be catastrophic for humans and the natural world alike. Under-research and ill-educated mass planting efforts, poor habitat management and channelling of funds into ineffective schemes in the name of ‘conservation’ will not be good enough to sustain our planet. It's why I feel particularly strongly that reading and educating yourself on ecology, biodiversity and conservation biology is the most effective method of pushing well-researched eco-conscious strategies.
Climate anxiety is very real and something I myself, among other young people, feel often. In the closing chapters, Robinson discusses ways people who are enthusiastic about the environment can cope more effectively with feelings of climate anxiety, while still taking action for the cause. I found it a very meaningful section and equally important as an understanding of the issues themselves. Preserving the well-being of those eager to help mitigate the climate crisis is key to ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of conservation action - the more enthusiastic help, the better. Robinson encourages young people to seek out research and education in ecology and conservation, considering it is amongst the most valuable of fields.
I found myself studying ecology and conservation out of love for plants and fungi and became only more aware as I studied just how critical they are as components of ecosystems. It is absolutely imperative we aim to move toward a more eco-conscious future. I feel endlessly grateful and lucky to be studying and researching in a field I feel can truly make an impact, helping to protect our future and that of our planet. I certainly feel a similar gratitude and genuine love for the discipline from Robinson, through the pages of ‘Treewilding’ and all of his extensive research.
It’s an important read. Robinson avoids too much overcomplicated field jargon, so it is significantly more accessible and available in comparison to how I feel many scientific books come across. That’s not to say it isn’t full of fascinating concepts and wonderful case studies, theories and conversations with field experts. Robinson writes from a place of passion and enthusiasm, giving an interesting overview of a breadth of different topics and referencing numerous different relevant disciplines. It offers a refreshing opinion on a more multidisciplinary approach to conservation that I feel is often omitted and sometimes disregarded.
He emphasises the importance of social and cultural factors, their significance, and their value in achieving solutions that benefit all. He places Indigenous cultures (rightfully so) at the centre of conservation efforts and pushes for Western cultures to listen to, learn from, and apply the ideas of Indigenous peoples who have been conserving, appreciating, and living alongside the natural world for generations. For those looking to better educate themselves and learn more about the significance of trees and forests, the important habitats they create, the ecosystems they underpin, and the services they provide us, I think ‘Treewilding’ is a critical read, along with additional suggestions given throughout by Robinson on similar topics.
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