The Wood Wide Web - that's how it works
And the forests sing forever. Really now?
Whether the German forests currently have much reason to sing is hard to say. At least in this late summer of 2018 there is something going on in our native forest: severe forest fires in Brandenburg with devastating consequential damage. Tree-trimmers in the Hambacher forest, which wants to make the planned clear-cutting by the lignite mining a line through the bill. Added to this is the ever-growing infestation of our chestnut trees by the miner moth and now a completely new one: tropical giant ticks, which, in theory, can transmit tick-tainted fever and Crimean-Congo fever to animals or humans. There comes a lot together.
The root network
The wires of the woodland internet should glow in any case. Oh no, glow is now quite stupid, because there is still the highest forest fire hazard level in many places. Not that in the end even more of our roughly 90 billion German trees fall victim to a conflagration. Do you think that's what makes nearly 1100 trees per inhabitant? I would not have guessed so many. In fact, it is clear that such a large population of living beings must have their own communication system to successfully survive the survival-of-the-fittest program. So let's take a closer look at the Internet of the forest, the so-called Wood Wide Web. Incidentally, this designation is not an invention of the successful forester Peter Wohlleben, although he has recently made the term really popular.
A short Zwischenhurra on Peter Wohlleben
In general, Mr. Wohlleben (nomen est here but really times omen!) With his books has contributed to a completely new understanding of our native forests. A naturalistic enlightener in high-tech times: the contrast could hardly be greater. But this is probably the reason for the excitement and success of his books. The average person is often overstrained and oversaturated in view of the rapid development of his environment. In this respect, it is only too understandable that the stressed citizen needs a retreat. A place that can provide both mental and physical sensory overload protection. What is closer in our latitudes with their lush trees than the forest? Consider: more than a thousand trees per person. So: Many thanks, Mr. Wohlleben, that you have recalled this ancient human knowledge of the forest-affluent rural dwellers and at the same time succeed in making curious about the forests of the Waldviertel so completely unkempt urbanites on the habitat forest. But now back to the roots and in the truest sense of the word.
WWW? the Wood Wide Web
Back in the forest floor we are surrounded by an unmanageable network of tree roots, which itself is interwoven with myriads of fine mushroom threads. It looks a bit like looking into a brain with its synapses and nerve channels. That this point of view is not so far-fetched, according to recent research. The fungal threads (fungal hyphae), which can be recognized as a white network in the forest floor, connect the roots of all trees and shrubs. In addition to nutrients and water, they also transmit messenger substances, with the help of which the plants can exchange information with one another. Since these fungi reach a tremendous extent, the actual access area of a tree is much larger than would be the case only through its normal roots. For example, trees that are far apart can warn each other of impending pest infestation.
No free forest lan
Nothing in this world is truly in vain, so every tree must pay its connection to the mushroom-hyphae network with about one-third of its total sugar production. Similar to the human broadcasting fee (formerly GEZ), the operator (the mushroom) does not rely on the willingness of its customers to pay and unceremoniously connects each tree to the network. However, the transmission speed of the data leaves something to be desired: At about one centimeter per second is the end. On the other hand, I have never met a tree that would have been in a hurry to send a mail to its friend at the other end of the forest.
Forest as Soul Balm
It all sounds terribly human and technical, but it does not manage to demystify the forest and rob it of its very special, mysterious magic. I am one of those lucky enough to grow up in the immediate vicinity of large forest areas and thus develop an intensive forest binding. Today in Berlin a visit to the forest is associated with some effort, but barely arrived in the cool and shady green of tall trees, immediately sets a deep well-being. Therefore, my tip in the end today is only very short and simple: often times a forest walk? Body and Spirit will thank you.
The many trees and the few people? they make the forest so beautiful?
Otto Weiß (1849 - 1915), Viennese musician and columnist
