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The Treeline

The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth

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The Treeline

By: Ben Rawlence
Narrated by: Jamie Parker
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Brought to you by Penguin.

The Treeline is a spellbinding blend of nature, travel and science writing, deeply researched and beautifully written, underpinned by an urgent environmental message.

The Arctic Treeline - the northern limit of the boreal forest that encircles the globe in an almost unbroken green ring - is the second largest biome on our planet. At this little-known frontline of climate change, the trees have been creeping towards the pole for fifty years already.

Six of the tree species that populate these forests (Larch, Spruce, Mountain Ash, Downy Birch, Balsam Poplar and Scots Pine) form the central protagonists of Ben Rawlence's story. In Scotland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland, he discovers what these trees and the people who live and work alongside them have to tell us about the past, present and future of our planet. Scientists are only just beginning to understand the astonishing significance of these forests for all life on Earth. At the Treeline, Rawlence witnesses the accelerating impact of climate change and the devastating legacies of colonialism and capitalism. But he also finds reasons for hope. Humans are creatures of the forest; we have always evolved with trees. The Treeline asks us where our co-evolution might take us next.

© Ben Rawlence 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Biological Sciences Botany & Plants Earth Sciences Ecosystems & Habitats Environment Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science Polar Region Inspiring Thought-Provoking Alaska
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Critic reviews

This original and readable book takes readers to a part of the world undergoing radical but little-understood change.
An urgent and insightful tour of some of the world's strangest, most bewitching and most endangered environments... This is an important book, and one I will be pressing into other people's hands. (Cal Flyn, author of ISLANDS OF ABANDONMENT)
[A] sweeping account of the Arctic forest that circles the world in an almost unbroken ring.
[A] lyrical and passionate book... The Treeline is a sobering, powerful account of how trees might just save the world. (Kathryn Hughes)
[An] urgent investigation into the Arctic treeline... a meticulously researched and compellingly presented read. (Hannah Beckerman)
Twill rightly provoke fear, but also a sense of wonder ... A beautiful and evocative portrait of the natural world. It is essential reading for those hoping to better understand our changing planet. (Tom Lathan)
Rawlence is a fine ecologist and an excellent writer... The Treeline is timely, salutary and eminently readable. Excellent. (Colin Tudge)
Ben Rawlence... writes with accuracy, beauty and urgency. (Andrew Robinson)
[A] moving, thoughtful, deeply reported elegy for our vanishing world and a map of the one to come. (Nathaniel Rich, author of LOSING EARTH)
A fascinating book drawing on a brilliant, original line of thinking... A perfect combination of lyrical writing and rigorous reporting. Utterly illuminating. (Sophy Roberts, author of THE LOST PIANOS OF SIBERIA)
All stars
Most relevant
Came across this on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week serialisation. Bought it after the first episode. TL/DR - climate change is shifting the boreal forest northwards. Ben Rawlence circumnavigates the globe, visiting the leading and trailing edges of the forest - the treelines. He packs in plenty of science as he describes the complex processes reshaping the physical environment of the far north, its impact on those who live there, and the broader implications for the planet.
It's very well-written and read. If you're interested in the environment, forests, snow or arctic(ish) travelogues you should appreciate this. I won't say 'enjoy' as Ben's well-argued conclusions are even more troubling than I expected, and I wasn't exactly hopeful.

Fascinating and troubling

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A well written and researched book, well read, and a very interesting, exciting and important topic.

Great Book

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The information in this book is vast and is wisdom, highly recommended. It’s show that human still have hope to preserve and love our planet

Beautiful

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A very enjoyable but quite detailed look at the real treeline, how it has changed, what it means for us and ultimately, can we do anything about it?
Thought -provoking and acknowledges climate change without being adversarial with opinions - this is more about looking at what happens cyclically as well as man-made issues and also introduces the various people who live on the treeline across the continents.
Exceptionally well narrated too which helped absorb the information.

Fascinating glimpse into the climate and trees

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It felt like a story of humanity, as well as nature. Beautifully told, with such reverence for nomadic communities. Everyone should read this.

Fascinating

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