Canopy Tree Project
To Save Trees, We Should Act Like Them
October 8, 2025
Today, October 8th, is International Community Day. This day celebrates communities, when people come together for a common purpose. In our modern, digitized, and polarized world, a sense of community might seem hard to create, but as inspiration, we’re looking at how trees have survived in their communities for millions of years. So, what can we all learn from trees to help build our own communities?
Trees Survive Through Interdependence
Trees connect with each other in a network of roots and fungi, often called “the wood wide web.”
Through this network, the mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with tree roots, creating an underground communication and resource-sharing system, through which they can communicate, and exchange vital substances necessary for survival. Including water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other minerals.
Trees also communicate stress signals—such as warnings about drought, insect attacks, or disease—via chemical and electrical signals passed through this fungal web. The fungi benefit from this relationship by receiving sugars produced by the trees through photosynthesis, which they use to fuel their own growth. This intricate system enhances forest resilience and resource efficiency, demonstrating a remarkable form of underground cooperation and communication among trees.
This is a new science, but it suggests that trees may survive not just through Darwinian competition, but also through effective communication. In a world where individualism has become rife— we have seen an explosion in “climate anxiety,” in young people especially. It’s a condition that puts the burden of coping on individuals, even though climate change impacts us all, and requires collaboration to solve.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), in 2019, 68% of adults experienced at least a little dose of climate anxiety, and yet the majority of us “don’t know where to start” when it comes to fighting climate change.
What if, instead of feeling unsure and alone, we communicated with each other, like trees do? Humans need connection to survive and, just like trees and fungi, so let’s all be a little more like them and a little like ‘us’ for a change.
Trees Safeguard the Young
Some scientists believe that tree communities strive to protect young trees and especially vulnerable ones by sharing resources. Aside from the mutual communication trees share through the wood wide web, evidence suggests that the oldest, strongest trees — also known as “mother trees” — make efforts to support the younger ones.
Mother trees can identify their own saplings and even send them resources when needed. This is necessary because saplings can be very vulnerable. Improper soil conditions, weeds, pests, and disease are serious threats to them, and they often depend on their tree mothers to survive.
Additionally, trees that are rich in resources altruistically give their own resources to other trees in need, using their consistent communication, to meet other tree’s needs.
Likewise, as a climate movement, we have to make efforts to ensure our young and marginalized groups are heard and supported. Studies predict that, due to climate change, world hunger will worsen, and vulnerable groups will face more marginalization.
The think tank, the Institute for Economics & Peace, predicts that over 1 billion people could become “climate refugees” by 2050. Climate refuges are defined as people forced to leave their homes due to natural disasters, other ecological changes, lack of food or water, or geopolitical conflict related to climate change. So, unless climate activists with resources support less well equipped groups, we risk losing future climate champions.
Trees Support More Than Just Their Own Trees Species
The wood wide web connects not only trees but entire forests all through an incredible network of fungi and roots. Research by Suzanne Simard used radioactive carbon isotopes to track carbon movement and revealed that in forests with paper birch and Douglas firs, carbon produced by sun-exposed birch trees is shared with shaded firs trees through these fungal links. This exchange helps younger or less competitive trees survive, even when they are a different species of tree. Similarly, poplars and maples warn each other of insect pest attacks, prompting production of protective chemicals.
Like trees’ interdependence, climate activists should build symbiotic relationships across causes. Collaboration with diverse groups can increase impact, crucial in today’s environmental fight.
The movement shouldn’t be divisive—saving the planet is a cause that should unite us all. By embracing cooperation like trees do, supporting vulnerable communities, and fostering partnerships, the movement can be stronger and more trusted.
If someone says you can’t “see the forest for the trees,” remember trees see no difference between individual trees and the forest itself. Maybe it’s time we took a leaf from their book.If this idea inspires you, consider supporting the Canopy Tree Project, which helps restore at-risk forests worldwide through partnership and collective action.
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