How much can one love a tree?
Rajasthan, in northern India, is home to the Bishnoi, a desert people whose religion is built around nature and wildlife conservation. They are famous for their unwavering belief in the interdependence of nature, and the harmony between plants, animals and humans, but they are also renowned for the extreme lengths they go to defend the green world. Bishnoi have died to defend trees from loggers, and the present-day Tiger Force are relentless in their mission to stop poaching and bring hunters to justice.
In My Head For A Tree, Martin Goodman explores the history and meaning of the Bishnoi way of life, and asks what a world facing climate change and natural harms can learn from a 600 year-old sustainable community. Charting the origins of the Bishnoi in a 15th century drought, Goodman explores what lessons we can learn from the Bishnoi's resilience and commitment to their delicate way of life in the face of modern adversity.
Written with the blessing and guidance of the Bishnoi, My Head For A Tree is a timely reflection on how all of us can adjust our lives to protect the natural world and our planetary future.