4 reasons we should be planting trees around us
Would it suffice to call the planet God’s green earth without all the trees and forests that make it so? Trees have been one of the major contributors to the well-being of the planet and its inhabitant wild-life, Humans included.
From the Stone Age until today man in his wisdom has developed and made progress through the ages by learning to use nature for his benefit.
We have had to carve and create weapons to protect ourselves from the wild animals that pose as predators and other persons who seek to rob us of what is ours.
We’ve been creating clubs, spears, arrows, herbs, shelters and clothing among other things with trees as the major raw material.
These trees have been with us through the ages even as we develop and make advancements in technology and achieve greater civilization.
Unfortunately, on the flip side of increasing civilization and globalization, is an increase in the demand for trees, facilitating deforestation at an unprecedented pace.
This dwindling size of vegetation on the planet has had a negative impact on the environment and the planet over-time. Most notably is extreme weather conditions that have previously been unexperienced. Take Australia for example, where only a couple of months ago, wild fires claimed over 186,000 square kilometers of land (that’s more than twice the size of the UAE, or more than three times the size of Togo, or if you like football, more than 22 million football fields. Yes, you read right!). Another example? Here are two more: Kenya experienced a locust invasion similar to the old Bible times; and Victoria Falls – one of the seven wonders of the world that had water the size of 200 olympic size swimming pools flowing per minute, is reduced to ‘trickles’.
By now, we know what you are thinking – we need our trees! So, we put together, for anyone still in doubt, a list of four reasons why we need to plant more trees.
Reasons to plant tress
- Trees combat climate change
- Trees provide a canopy and habitat for wild life
- Trees provide oxygen
- Trees provide wood
Trees combat climate change
Excess carbon dioxide (CO2) is building up in our atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Trees absorb CO2, removing and storing the carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air. In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced when you drive your car 26,000 miles.
Trees provide a canopy and habitat for wild life
It’s a fact that trees provide shade from the sun for us and also beautify roads where they are planted on both sides. They also help the provide a major support to the ecosystem. Sycamore and oak are among the many urban species that provide excellent urban homes for birds, bees, possums and squirrels.
Trees provide oxygen
Trees store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and in exchange give oxygen. Regions with more trees and vegetation are known to have cleaner air and bluer skies, with inhabitants living healthier lives. They do this by absorbing odors and pollutants like nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone. Fun fact, in one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people.
Trees prevent soil erosion
Heavy rains easily cause floods and soil erosion. These in turn, cause poor health and farming conditions, respectively. Trees serve a cushion to buffer the falling rain thereby reducing the risk of flood. Their roots also help hold the soil in place, thereby enabling the water go deep into the ground, rather than running off and causing an erosion.
Trees are very important members of earth’s ecosystem and we as humans, being the most intelligent life form in the planet, it’s our duty to ensure that for every tree lost to deforestation at least a new tree is planted in its place. We need as much help as we can get to combat the negative effects of climate change. More trees would help wild life flourish and in turn make the earth more habitable for mankind by increasing oxygen production and trapping excess carbon in the atmosphere. Also planting more trees today means there will be more trees tomorrow and we will never have to worry about a future with shortage of trees.
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