forest Archives - Longreads

Where the Forest Went

Hugh Maxwell’s walk transformed 2.6 million acres of wilderness into a grid for sale. A writer followed his trail to survey what remains.

“But here the line is blurred. In the afterlife of cedars, nothing is ever dead.”

“Trees have always migrated to survive. But now they need our help to avoid climate catastrophe.”

“Ecosystems are similar to human societies — they’re built on relationships. The stronger those are, the more resilient the system.”

“Trees appear to communicate and cooperate through subterranean networks of fungi. What are they sharing with one another?”