Trees & Forests of America - Hardcover

Palmer, an award-winning photographer, writer, and conservationist, creates books that combine art and science in the hope of evoking awe, increasing understanding of the life sciences, and stepping up environmental awareness. In this volume, he brings readers deep into the woods, the green cathedrals of nature that sustain life on earth. Palmer traveled all across America to contemplate native trees still standing in and supporting healthy ecosystems, which means he went to state and national parks, wilderness areas and nature reserves, of which he avers we need many more. His knowledge of the inner workings of trees, the planet’s most majestic and oldest living organisms, sharpens his eye and underlies the cogent, wide-ranging narration that accompanies his sylvan landscapes and portraits of individual trees, each distinct and vital. As Palmer explains why forests are essential to our survival, he also details all that threatens their viability, concluding, “Forests are the keepers of soil, water, and climate. . . . Trees produce the air we breathe. . . . We need them, and they are beautiful.” Enough said. --Donna Seaman