I receive guidance in this matter, as in so much else, from our elders the plants. Trees and fungi, especially, have a lot to teach us about community. For example:

“…forests with more diverse communities and complex structures are likely to fare better because they have more options for recovery. Resilience is the capacity of a forest to recover or adapt following disturbance or stress. Resilient forests typically have a diversity of tree species and ages, which allows them to accommodate change and to continue as forests after experiencing disturbances or stress. Different species and ages of trees have varying stress tolerances and disturbance susceptibilities. Although a resilient forest may not retain the same species or appearance as it did before a disturbance, it will continue to provide essential services such as clean air and water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, timber resources, carbon sequestration and storage, and flood prevention.

These words come from an article in Northern Woodlands magazine, Autumn 2024, titled “Managing Forests for Resilience” by University of Vermont assistant professor of forestry Alexandra Kosiba.