Suzanne Simard

Background

About Suzanne Simard

Dr. Suzanne Simard is a Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry and the leader of The Mother Tree Project. Her research focuses on the complexity and interconnectedness of nature and is guided by her deep connection to the land and her time spent amongst the trees. She is known for her work on how trees interact and communicate using below-ground fungal networks. Her work with her students led to the recognition that forests have hub trees, or Mother Trees, which are large, highly connected trees that play an important role in the flow of information and resources in a forest. Dr. Simard's current research investigates how these complex relationships contribute to forest resiliency, adaptability, and recovery. This research has far-reaching implications for land use management, including the sustainable stewardship of forest ecosystems as climate changes.