Rare Trees: The Fascinating Stories of the World’s Most Threatened Species

by Sara Oldfield, Malin Rivers

Discover the secrets and beauty of the world’s rarest trees in this fantastic book filled with more than 300 color photographs.
 
Did you know that the resin of the dragon tree was so prized that it was used and traded as medicine by the Roman Empire? Or that the Bornean ironwood is one of the only timbers dense enough to sink in water? Trees have adapted to thrive on steep mountains, high in cloud forests, on dry savannahs, in parched deserts, and in tropical wetlands. Our own human history—and our future—are interwoven with the trees that define the character and environments of our green planet.
 
Rare Trees offers a stunning visual presentation of 60 of the most fascinating, bizarre, and threatened tree species on the planet, from conifers to magnolias to oaks. With color photographs showing trees and their most unusual features, maps of growing regions, callouts of memorable facts, and examples of poignant cultural and historical uses by Indigenous populations, Rare Trees will give everyone who loves trees an armchair tour of unique specimens from around the globe. You will be inspired to help preserve this critical canopy of life.

Genres: Science, Nature, Nonfiction, Environment

400 pages, Hardcover

Published March 21, 2023

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a gifted advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Rare Trees is so much more than I expected it to be. I was expecting photographs and some information on rare trees but what I got was way more and so interesting too! Anything and everything in relation to trees that you could think of is within the pages of this amazing book. The book covers topics such as species of trees and where they are native to, different types of woods, extinct trees and trees facing extinction, different types of wood and what it is used for, medicine and other materials made from tree sap etc (essential oils and rubber being two), and stunning photographs, detailed sketches and a plethora or history, information and facts. I love how this book makes you view trees in such a new way and backs up why they are so important along with how we can help trees from becoming extinct and ways that we can help trees.This would make an amazing and unique coffee table book sure to start conversations!

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take the time to read this one. Many of these trees are disappearing and they need to preserved.

[Mairy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional read! Amazing photos! Plethora of facts on trees: their origins, their characteristics, their level of threat and much, much more.
A great gift idea or a gift to yourself to dress your coffee table.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange of my honest review.

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really would love to have this book in real physical copy with glossy pages like magazines/coffee-table-books.

Sara Oldfield must be having her name reflected in her works, "Oldfield'. She is an OBE and have year’s long experience in conservation and protection of wild tree species worldwide. She also co-chair the IUCN/SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. Her CV is enough to tell a lot about her.
I remember having read one of her articles last year on the importance of trees. As I can recollect in her words,

'Trees are of exceptional ecological importance, playing a major functional role in the world's ecosystems, while also supporting many other plants, animals and fungi.'

From her that article, I had learned that it is not just 'Urban Development' but even 'Wood Harvesting' & 'Livestock Farming' also affecting the environment to a very big extent. However, latter one is atleast beneficial for livelihood of living species, but the former one is completely for luxuries or utilities which can conveniently be avoided and to which an alternative could be found.

Visiting this book, yes, 'visiting', because it is more like roaming the places mentioned rather than just reading it because pictures were so good. So, visiting this book was an amazing experience and worth travelling metaphorically. I got to know many such trees to which I were completely unknown till now. As a fact, what mentioned was very horrifying for me. Over 17.5K trees are threatened with extinction, which is a way ahead or almost double of total number of mammals, birds, reptiles & amphibians combined and over 2.7K trees are listed under critical endangered category (IUCN red list). Like Bornean Ironwood, which is also mentioned in the book’s synopsis/extract, which I have seen for real also, having fruit like giant groundnut. Such a giant trees from South-East Asian region gives shelter to many more in the forests.

'Dryobalanops aromatic', as mentioned, used in India from more than last two millennia for the purpose of cleaning environment from the insects, and was attached with the practices of worshipping to let people stayed with it by the way to save the habitats affecting from diseases, evolution of which is from various insects out there. Here in India, we call forest ‘Abhyaranyas (अभयारण्य)’, means ‘Sanctuaries’ (a holy or sacred place). This is the mindset, we established way before people actually understand its value over the world then. This, in itself, a conservation technique, for those who are not educated but were completely aware of the real value of nature. Medicinal plants Conservation Areas (MPACs) were also developed over period of time. And, Not to mention for crediting, but world knew that ‘Ayurveda’ was the first ever way to treat people based on completely herbs and shrubs; nevertheless to say then, that we always were in culture of saving nature as we knew importance of her since very long, way before societies became civilized to actually know it. This is the reason why people who were not able to get education formally were very much aware by means of stories and cultural traits to save nature, mostly by worshipping different trees on many/varied religious offerings in Hinduism. Many trees’ cultivation techniques were taken from India to Europe. India was and is the only country in world to have made real and in limited way, the extracts from nature, which helped the world grow in time.

What I believe, is that, for the conservation of the nature, one must be serious and not just have to play a fame-game to get their image build in media. Last day, I was reading a picture book on Vanessa Nakate (Reviews: https://www.netgalley.com/book/282174... & https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) reading which I realized yet again that the whole problem is the pattern of saving the planet. She and activists like her & Great Thunberg and many more were just making their fame out of these screaming on saving the earth. They use papers as placards which can be easily made limitations to, to save the trees. They travel in luxury vehicles sponsored by institutions, which are paying for them to make money themselves, which eventually affecting climate more than they are actually saving it on ground. Just to metaphorically speaking and hypothetically giving lecture will not help in any manner to save our habitats. We've to work on ground. We need to set an example rather than telling people that you should do this and that & for that matter, I would just sit and enjoy luxury and that too without proper literacy.

This book leads to know where one should work and how the impacts on nature affecting our living state for real. We need to learn and educate others too, to cut down on our usages of products that help in direct proportionality to exploit nature more.

I really liked this work and would love to share knowledge I learned from here, to make people educate or atleast make them aware to work on foundation rather than blabbering to society or to the whole world for nothing impactful on real façade.

My NetGalley reviews: https://www.netgalley.com/book/260506...

[Jenn "JR" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of Rare Trees. As someone who loves trees, I hoped for a book that combined striking visuals with clear, accessible information—and this volume exceeded my expectations.

With its National Geographic–quality photography and encyclopedia-style detail, Rare Trees is both visually stunning and deeply informative. It’s the kind of book that invites readers to linger over its pages, making it equally at home as a coffee table centerpiece or an educational resource.

What impressed me most was the thoughtful conclusion: a concise, one-page list of practical steps readers can take to support trees and the environment. The inclusion of lifestyle suggestions—such as reducing meat and dairy consumption—shows the author’s commitment to connecting beauty with action.

This is a gorgeous, inspiring book that will appeal to adults and children alike. I can’t wait to see it in print and share it with others.

ORIGINAL URL: http://www.livegreenwearblack.com/202...

© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very well done. I learned so much about different species, what part of the world they are native to, and efforts ongoing to protect and bring back these trees. It told us which woods were/are used by peoples native to the areas where they originated. The author includes uses throughout the world for specific woods, such as medication, essential oils, musical instruments and more. As someone who uses essential oils, I will be much more conscious of which oils come from endangered or at risk trees, and stay away from those. Lots of color photos are included from many different countries. I thought they did a good job of keeping the info easily understood, for those of us not in the scientific fields. I want to thank Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC, and definitely feel it's a book people will enjoy!

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally enjoyed this book of rare trees. However, it should be noted that I had a rough time initially engaging with the structure of the introduction. The first few paragraphs were very captivating regarding the diversity and awesomeness of trees but then it segued rather quickly to doom and gloom and then into so many acronyms of organizations that I lost interest. After a break, I tried reading again and was very happy I did so.

The remainder of the book did a nice job of breaking down various groups of trees based on ecosystem, use and family groups. This way the authors were able to provide blanket information about forests as well as specific information about rare tree species and groups. Risks and conservation efforts were addressed in a comfortable manner. Text was accented with images of picturesque landscapes, specimens, unique settings and resources to keep the reader either browsing or stopping to read for further detail.
Very interesting book for a person with a natural resource background, potentially too detailed at times for a layperson. 4 stars.

Review based on a digital ARC provided by Timber Press and NetGalley. Thank you!

[Mellissa Bushby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that is perfect for any lover of these wise and majestic beings. With informative and interesting descriptions and beautiful photographs, this is a lovely hardcopy gift for yourself or a tree-loving friend.

5 Stars!

Thanks to Timber Press and NetGalley for my much-appreciated ARC.

[Brannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on NetGalley.com. I was given an ebook freely by NetGalley and the book’s publisher in return for a voluntary and honest review.

Rare Trees
By Sara Oldfield and Malin Rivers

This is a beautiful book. Part coffee table book, part reference book. Sara Oldfield and Malin Rivers divide their book into three chapters; the Trees and their Ecosystems, Trees and Their Uses and Special Tree Groups. In the introduction they speak plainly about our great need for healthy and protected forests.

In Trees and Their Ecosystems Oldfield and Rivers go into great detail about rainforest, cloud forests, dry forests, boreal forests and islands. They break down clearly each type of ecosystem and where they can be found in the world, what benefits they give us and what their relationship is to other plants, animals and humans in that Ecosystem. They also detail the issues threatening each ecosystem and how we can make a difference.

In Trees and Their Uses Oldfield and Rivers show the many uses trees provide. Medicine, poison, perfumes, wood, food and beauty. In Tree Groups Oldfield and Rivers break the trees into their subspecies, Conifers, Magnolias, Ashes, Oaks, Dipterocarps, Palms, and Sapotaceae. Then they list individual trees found within the subspecies. With each tree we learn how endangered they are based on a scale, their natural range, preferred habitat and treats.

Lastly I just want to say the photography is stunning. If you’ve ever marveled at the grandeur of trees this book is for you.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is honestly the saddest and most terrifying book I have ever read. And that´s because it makes you fully realize the scale of destruction we humans have done and continue doing to our surroundings.
This book is incredibly informative without being boring, which is very rare in non-fiction genre, especially when the reader has no background in the field whatsoever. It explains plainly why it´s important to save what we have left and the interactions between particular little systems, that most of us probably don't even know to exist and why they are vital to our existence. It tells stories about trees and shrubs I have never heard about. And how we go and kill everything on our path until we will effectively kill ourselves. Because we will.
This book is not as depressing as you might think thanks to my awesome review. It´s just that I happen to be oversensitive to nature matters and tend to shout at maintenance workers when they prune trees.
Anyway, trust me when I say you must read this book and share it with your family, friends, neighbours and donate at least a dozen to every school library on this planet. Seriously.

[Cathy O'c · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a complete, stunningly beautiful, resource of well researched information about thousands of types of trees. The title made me think this was going to be stories about individual rare trees, instead it was a complete explanation of trees around the world, their struggle to survive and efforts being put into place to save them. While I confess, I did not read the book from cover to cover, I did look at the hundred of beautiful photos of trees around the world and read the interesting facts and quotes that the author spread throughout the book as captions. The book has a complete index which makes looking up an individual species of tree quick and easy.
I could see this book being used as a valuable resource in college classes about botany. I will purchase this book for my son who is a forester. For anyone who wants to have a vast tree resource at their fingertips, Rare Trees would make a unique coffee table book.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely beautiful book. It is full of interesting information about ecology, trees in general, and rare and endangered trees. All of the information and types of trees are divided into chapters.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters about the various types of trees. An easy to access sidebar is provided for each species with includes a map, native range, and other quick references. A more thorough discussion follows. The organization of this book makes it simple for people to find the species and categories of trees that are of interest.
The reader does not have to be a botanist to appreciate this book. The language is readable but still provides relevant information.
This book is illustrated with beautiful photographs of trees, their flowers, landscapes, and other related material. It would make an excellent addition to any nature-lover's collection.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise Foerster · Rating 5 out of 5]

RARE TREES by Sara Oldfield and Malin Rivers is a masterwork, beautiful, inspiring, and educational. Page upon page of detailed, fascinating information is presented as a story of how trees and humans have lived together for millennia, with wonderful photographs depicting world cultures, forests, and remote regions few are able to visit. While I appreciated the deep information, at times it felt a little too academic for my taste. However, this also contributed to my commitment to support the efforts to reforest and to support our natural world. All in all, this book is an important contribution for environmentalists, tree huggers, and every day people alike. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

[R.Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Rare Trees" is an interesting description of trees and their unusual uses that we don't often hear about. Well-written in a slightly textbook style, the design of the book is modern with beautiful illustrations and colored sidebars. The book will hold your interest as its emphasis on conservation is important for everyone who cares about saving our planet and the many species that face extinction. It never ceases to astound me that humans are just now beginning to understand how very connected are all living things whether people, animals, plants, or tiny microbes that haven't even been discovered yet. Please read this book and donate a copy to your local library. Thank you.

[Sierra]

If you like the podcast In Defense of Plants, read this book. It has lovely descriptions so many trees and their conservation stories, and seems to be very up-to-date. However, this is not a beginner tree book, and probably not great to read straight through if you're not already excited about trees. The text is denser than it looks, and there are a solid 400 pages of tree. Also it uses Tertiary instead of Paleogene/Neogene, but that's more of a personal preference thing. This would be a wonderful coffee table book in any nature enthusiast's living room.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

From dragons blood to the African Blackwood‘s comic is full of great information rare trees and beautiful pics these books are great for those who learn visually ly better than audiblly the beautiful graphics. Although that’s not me I enjoy these books a lot. I was so excited to see rare trees was a comic and couldn’t wait to read it and I am so glad I did it’s so informative and beautiful and I absolutely loved it my first five star rating for a comic. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that any nature or tree lover would enjoy. The photographs are amazing and those alone make this an incredibly compelling book, but the attention to detail in describing the "why" for this book and why the reader should care about these trees is really great. The book is much more in-depth (and much longer!) than I had originally expected, but it was a wonderful surprise. Even as someone who grew up in and works in arboriculture, I still learned quite a bit from this book. Rare Trees is truly an exceptional - and beautiful - book.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The introduction of the book is about how many species of trees have become endangered. Then the book covers the different types of forests and ecosystems. The next section of the book discusses many of the uses of trees. It gives specific trees for each use. Next, the book breaks down the different tree groups, using different trees as specific examples. After that, the book covers specific trees, divided by type. For anyone who is interested in nature and trees, this is a necessary book.

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I read the title and not the subtitle, so I thought this would be more pictures with a few paragraphs here and there. Actually, it's mostly words with pictures tossed in. The middle part of the book has specific trees, their endangered status, range, map of where they grow, and then a bunch of info about them. A denser read than I expected.

[Brittney Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly valuable. We should all strive to develop an understanding of the importance of trees. There is a lack of research regarding medicinal uses, as well as lost indigenous wisdom. Now, many of these rare trees are endangered, some critically. If we could shift toward this knowledge collectively, perhaps we’d also care more to help these trees survive.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a moving and important book as it talks about trees which are disappearing due to antropocene and climate changes.
The risk is that we will know about them looking at the photos in this book.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Samantha Hehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing reference and guide of rare trees that produce medicines, poisons, spices, and might even be present in your own garden. This book is great for nature lovers and world builders, looking to expand and diversify their worlds with different forests and greenery.

[Zakri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a delightful book to dabble in every so often. It is informative and engaging, and I have best enjoyed it by reading small chunks rather than as a read-through.

[Rose Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Sarah Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative! Beautiful pictures as well.

[Rel · Rating 5 out of 5]

some good trees in here.

[Tanya R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures, so much great information, this is a great book to have on a coffee table for little ones to grow up reading.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is pretty, but it is for readers already very comfortable with botany. I read a lot of science and enjoy it, but this is more in-depth than expected, not something someone new to the topic can pick up.

I got the eARC from NetGalley but couldn't open it on my tablet; read the print from my library instead.

[Ayurella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been a little obsessed with learning all I can about trees — Suzanne Simard is to thank for that — so I jumped at the chance to read Rare Trees.

From sweetgum to cinnamon, the book dedicates its pages to rare tree species found across the world; breaking down their origins, history and uses, as well as identifying standing threats to the ecosystems that house them. The information is shared in an easily digestible format which makes the content informative but light. Plus, the photography included is nothing short of stunning.

With Rare Trees, Sara Oldfield and Malin Rivers deliver something special. You will marvel at the incredible backstories behind tree species you’ve never even heard of — but quickly find yourself enchanted with. You will lose yourself in the collection of images that pop in color and vibrancy and message. And you will walk away from this feeling all the richer — in knowledge and in spirit.

This book is lovingly-crafted; a guide to unusual trees that calls to the curious and a source of insight into the beating hearts of every forest. It is a delight.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

[Kelly Hodgkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up “Rare Trees”, by Sara Oldfield and Malin Rivers, as I love learning about unusual trees and trees in general. I didn’t immediately pick up, from the back cover copy, that the defining feature of this book is it highlights trees which are threatened. It looks at each tree, why it matters to its ecosystem and what is negatively impacting its survival and what is being done to stop it disappearing.

It is fascinating, well-written and also saddening. One cannot read it and not feel called to do more to protect our natural world and especially these beautiful trees! The photos are gorgeous and add a visual representation of what we are seeking to preserve!

If you have a passion for environmental activism or want to understand what is at risk, this one is for you! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Timber Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.