AIR
Trees clean the air by taking in pollutants through their leaves and bark and releasing oxygen. In cities, they absorb harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide, as well as particles like dust and smoke. The rise of carbon dioxide due to deforestation and burning of fossil fuels leads to an increase in atmospheric heat. Trees play a crucial role as carbon sinks, counterbalancing the effects of carbon and mitigating climate change by absorbing it.
WATER
Trees play a vital role in retaining rainwater, minimizing the occurrence of natural disasters such as floods and landslides. Their intricate roots act as filters, trapping pollutants and slowing the water's infiltration into the soil. This helps prevent soil erosion, reduces the chance of flooding, and regulates water absorption. The UN Food and Agriculture Association reports that a single mature evergreen tree can capture over 15,000 liters of water annually.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the different species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, as well as the diversity of ecosystems that support them. Biodiversity is crucial for maintaining a healthy planet and for providing essential ecosystem services such as food, water, and air purification.
However, biodiversity is under threat due to human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change. These activities have resulted in species extinction and a decline in the abundance of many species. The loss of biodiversity can have negative impacts on ecosystems, such as decreasing the resilience of ecosystems to external shocks, altering food webs, and reducing the delivery of ecosystem services.
SOCIAL IMPACT
The forestry industry offers a wide range of job opportunities, from arborists to loggers to researchers. We don’t just rely on trees for work, though. Sustainable tree farming produces timber for homes and shelters, as well as wood for cooking and heating. In addition to providing fruit, nuts, berries, and leaves for consumption by humans and animals, food-producing trees are extremely nutritious.
CLIMATE
Trees help cool the planet by sucking in and storing harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into their trunks, branches, and leaves — and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. In cities, trees can reduce ambient temperatures by up to 8° Celsius. With more than 50% of the world’s population living in cities — a number expected to increase to 66% by the year 2050 — pollution and overheating are becoming a real threat. Fortunately, a mature tree can absorb an average of 22lbs of carbon dioxide per year, making cities a healthier, safer place to live.
HEALTH
Do you know that hospital patients with rooms overlooking trees recover faster than those without the same view? When you walk through a calm, quiet forest, it's impossible to ignore the feeling of elation you get. Trees help reduce stress and anxiety, and allow us to reconnect with nature. Furthermore, shade provided by trees protects our skin from the ever-increasing harshness of the sun.