Guardians of the Trees

A Journey of Hope Through Healing the Planet: A Memoir

By: Kinari Webb

Narrated by: Kinari Webb, Suehyla El-Attar

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

This program includes an introduction read by the author.

A "magnificent, empowering" (Bill McKibben) memoir about a woman spearheading a global initiative to heal the world’s rain forests and the communities who depend on them.

When Kinari Webb first traveled to Indonesian Borneo at 21 to study orangutans, she was both awestruck by the beauty of her surroundings and heartbroken by the rain forest destruction she witnessed. As she got to know the local communities, she realized that their need to pay for expensive health care led directly to the rampant logging, which in turn imperiled their health and safety even further. Webb realized her true calling was at the intersection of medicine and conservation.

After graduating with honors from the Yale School of Medicine, Webb returned to Borneo, listening to local communities about their solutions for how to both protect the rain forests and improve their lives. Founding two nonprofits, Health in Harmony in the US and ASRI in Indonesia, Webb and her local and international teams partnered with rainforest communities, building a clinic, developing regenerative economies, providing educational opportunities, and dramatically transforming the region. But just when everything was going right, Webb was stung by a deadly box jellyfish and would spend the next four years fighting for her life, a fight that would lead her to rethink everything. Was she ready to expand her work to a global scale and take climate change head-on?

Full of hope and optimism, Webb takes us on an exhilarating, galvanizing journey across the world, sharing her passion for the natural world and for humanity. In our current moment of crisis, Guardians of the Trees is an essential road map for moving forward and the inspiring story of one woman’s quest to heal the world.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

"A wonderful book." (Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & U.N. Messenger of Peace)

©2021 Kinari Webb (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

“Inspiring…In a compelling narrative, the author shares the details of her journey and the cultural nuances of the region…A unique perspective that offers immense hope and direction for humanity in the face of climate change.”—Kirkus (starred review)

“[Webb’s] devotion to fighting for the health of the world and its people remains unflagging, as evidenced in her galvanizing and hopeful story. Those looking for a jolt of inspiration would do well to pick this up.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) 

“This really is a journey of hope, told with an observant eye and an open heart.”—Booklist 

BEAUTIFUL!

I was hesitant to read this book because books that discuss the destruction of the planet often give me a sense of hopelessness and anxiety. The earth is being murdered and all I can do is stop using plastic straws? But Kinari is showing us how she used her privilege in both incredibly humble AND incredibly powerful ways! Her memoir is beautiful and honest....and full of hope. I listen to 2-3 books/ month, and this is one of the best books I've listened to in a long time. Let's all pledge to be guardians of the trees!

Amazing tale of resilience for a greater good

I am in awe of Kinari’s story and how it has shaped the amazing work she has been dedicating her life to. A true tale of resilience and hope.