The temperate forest spreads from Brittany to the borders of the Urals. In the middle of beeches, chestnuts and birches stands a legendary tree: the oak. The mysteries that play out between its branches have long made men dream... Its gnarled trunk is the sanctuary of thousands of species, each playing a role in the cycle of interdependencies. In this ecosystem where the rhythm of life follows that of the four seasons, the oak has so far resisted the vagaries of nature and invaders. Our giant draws its resilience from the richness of the biodiversity that surrounds it. But in the monocultures that are gradually replacing primary forests, the soils are poor and the symphony of nature has fallen silent: after clear-cutting, nothing stands in the way of pests.

Series Description:

Secret networks, Wood Wide Web, superorganism… A scientific and discovery series, Of Trees and Forests opens the doors to a world we only thought we knew. Committed scientists, researchers, indigenous people and more guides us in our quest to unveil the trees genius, their interconnections with other animal/vegetal species and the invisible but fully interdependent ecosystem behind it. Through one legendary tree, each episode explores a primary forest with its own climate, fauna and flora. By revealing their superpowers (purify water, stabilize the climate, stock energy, reduce flooding and erosion…), the series serves as wake-up call to remind how urgent and important it is to preserve our endangered forests.