Trees and Forests of the World Why They Matter to Us

by Larjavaara, Markku

• ISBN13: 9780197757062
• ISBN10: 0197757065
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2026-04-22
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
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Summary

Did you know that increasing wind speeds are not toppling trees - but fierce competition is? Or that deforesting without a bulldozer is difficult in many climates?

Here we explore the world's trees and forests, challenging established perspectives on fundamental questions: why do trees grow to the sizes they do? How much forest cover we should aim for?

Efforts to better understand the use and management of the world's forests are hindered by intentionally ambiguous terms that make analytical discussions unnecessarily difficult. Myths—such as the belief that forests and trees always have positive effects on people, that prehistoric humans lived in perfect harmony with nature, or that climate change only brings catastrophic problems—further complicate efforts to determine how much forest we truly need. Unfortunately, forest science is not free from biases, and many researchers consider this state of affairs both normal and acceptable. Trees and Forests of the World: Why They Matter to Us takes a unique approach, blending insights from both natural and social sciences to draw conclusions that diverge sharply from the polarized perspectives dominating current debates on forest use. It features dozens of "Sceptic's Questions," which directly challenge conventional ways of thinking, as well as "Weird Thinking" text boxes that offer novel perspectives on important topics.

Author Biography

Markku Larjavaara is a forester and Associate Professor in the Department of Forest Sciences at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He has worked in both development aid and research studying tree structure and growth, ecosystem carbon, and forest management. Between 2014 and 2016, Markku was an Editor for the research journal Functional Ecology.

Table of Contents

Part I. The World's Forests and Trees1. Forested Biomes2. A Multitude of Trees3. Natural Disturbances4. The Mystery of Persisting GymnospermsPart II. Limits to Tree Size5. Tree Structure6. Tree Growth7. Tree Height, Diameter, and Energy8. Climate and SizePart III. Forests Benefit People9. The History of Forest Use10. Wood Production11. Climate Change Mitigation12. Other Benefits of ForestsPart IV. Future Forests13. How Much Forest Is Needed?14. Forest Distribution15. Global Change Impacts16. Our Response to Global ChangeEpilogue