With her bestselling book Finding the Mother Tree, Suzanne Simard advanced a revelatory—and now broadly accepted—new paradigm for the profound intelligence of trees and their relationships with each other. Now, the renowned forest ecologist joins the Vancouver Writers Fest with a new trailblazing work of environmental nonfiction. When the Forest Breathes is an emboldening declaration that when we take responsible steps, reversing the effects of climate change is within reach.
Powered by rigorous science but infused with authenticity and warmth, When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World shares the findings of one of the most ambitious climate research projects ever conceived. Simard examines the forces that threaten forest ecosystems, highlights wisdom from the sophisticated knowledge systems of Indigenous peoples, and offers a pragmatic and hopeful vision for a responsible relationship with the forests that sustain us.
Discover a powerful vision for the future of our forests, from a scientist who has spent years studying British Columbia’s ecosystems. Simard speaks with Robert Moor, the bestselling author of On Trails and the new book In Trees, which explores how trees—from the mightiest sequoia to the tiniest bonsai—can teach us to grow wise. Books will be for sale at the event, with an audience Q+A and signing after the talk.
We do our best to make our events low-barrier, accessible experiences for our community. A limited number of accessibly priced tickets are available for purchase. To discuss other ways we can make these events more accessible to you, please reach out to us at boxoffice@writersfest.bc.ca or 604-681-6330.
About Books & Ideas
Launched in January 2025, Books & Ideas is an event series from the Vancouver Writers Fest, bringing literary talent and thought-provoking conversations to Granville Island—home of the Writers Fest’s celebrated annual literary festival—from January to June. With an intimate theatre venue and a pop-up bar for socializing, attendees are invited to connect more deeply with other members of the local literary community, and meet the esteemed authors who grace the stage, in a modern space for exchanging ideas.
Participants and Speakers
Suzanne Simard
DR. SUZANNE SIMARD is a professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia, where she currently leads the Mother Tree Project and co-directs the Belowground Ecosystem Group. Her work has been published widely, with more than 170 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her research has been communicated broadly through three TED Talks, TED Experiences, and articles and interviews in The New Yorker, National Geographic, NPR, CNN, and many more. She lives with her family in the mountains around Nelson, British Columbia.
Robert Moor
Hailed by The Wall Street Journal as a “philosopher on foot,” ROBERT MOOR is the bestselling author of On Trails and In Trees. Translated into more than a dozen languages, On Trails garnered the National Outdoor Book Award, the Pacific Northwest Book Award, and the William Saroyan International Prize. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harper’s, New York magazine, Outside, Emergence, and n+1, among other publications. He lives in Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia.