David Milarch by a redwood stump near San Geronimo, California Photo: Jim Robbins/Redux
The story begins when New York Times contributor Jim Robbins reads an article about the Champion Tree Project, a project aimed at cloning all 826 species of trees in the United States from champion trees, the fittest trees of every species.
The Champion Tree Project is led by David Milarch, a humble shade tree nurseryman from Michigan. Milarch began the project following a near-death experience after which he received a message that “the big trees were dying” and his job was to do something about it.
You might be thinking, as Robbins did when Milarch told him the story, is this guy for real? Robbins explains that this was “the most unusual origin of a science story [he’d] ever heard.”
Jim Robbins
Over the years Robbins keeps in contact with Milarch and pursues the questions inspired by Milarch’s effort to nurture our planet with trees:
How do trees communicate with each other?
How do trees and to what extent do they filter water and air for all life on the planet?
How do they prosper and how do they die?
The result is a lively and urgent exploration among scientists that as our climate changes the right trees planted in the right place for the right reasons might save our planet.
The story of David Milarch and the Champion Tree Project is a passionate testament to the power of one and the ability of a grass roots effort to stimulate a scientific community often stymied by their own expertise. The Man Who Planted Trees, printed on 100% post consumer fiber, is as pleasurable as it is educational.
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