One probably never gives it a second thought, but why are trees important for our environment? I’ll give you four, clean the air, produces oxygen, enriches the soil, and improve water quality.
We probably pass by hundreds or thousands on our daily commute to the office or school.
You probably stop to enjoy the shade, the tree’s fruit, or maybe even take a photo with it. But did you know that trees are associated with many benefits for our climate?
Without trees, there would be no life on earth; consequently, we must understand as the tree goes, so goes life. Trees play a critical role in the air that we breathe and the water quality we drink.
They also are essential in the biodiversity of different species. Additionally, plants and trees release antimicrobial compounds that help protects us against fungi and bacteria.
In this article, we will look at just four top benefits of trees for our environment, but I bet you can think of more.
Reduces Pollution
Planting trees keep the air clean and reduce the negative impacts of CO2 on our environment. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves and sequester the harmful gas so we humans can breathe, pretty cool stuff.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, a mature tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of CO2 gas in a year. Instead of removing trees, we need to start planting more trees and protecting our rainforest.
Trees can be a part of the solution to reverse the effects of climate change trees to protect our soil from erosion, damaging our ability to grow crops.
If you want to be part of the solution, I endorse checking out this clever way to plant trees, a lot of beautiful trees.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Produces Oxygen
One of the essential ingredients humans need to survive is oxygen, and that comes from trees. Trees will pull in CO2 and water through their leaves. Then, using the sun’s energy and photosynthesis will convert that to sugar and feed the tree.
The by-product from this chemical reaction produces oxygen, and we can all breathe a little easier now.
A mature tree can provide enough oxygen for four people a year by best estimations
Enriches Soil
Have you wondered what happens to all those leaves and dead branches that fall from trees as the seasons change each year? Not the ones that fall in your yard and you rack but out in the deep woods and forest.
They decay over time and compost back into the ground, creating deep nutrient soil, in turn, helps smaller plants and microorganisms that are vital to the earth’s ecosystem.
It’s also a food source for the trees themselves, the perfect sustainable system that provides all it needs to survive. Over the hundreds of years, trees can live and have adapted to their environments without any extra care.
Improves Water Quality
OK, most people know that trees can clear the air and produce oxygen for us to breathe, but many don’t know trees play an essential role in water quality.
We all know that humans need water to survive. It’s not just any water; we need clean water to survive, free of harmful bacteria and chemicals. The average family uses between 60 to 100 gallons a day; that’s a lot of water!
Trees also need water, and they have a clever way of getting it. As a tree matures and grows their branches spread out and become full of foliage that acts as a rainwater collector.
Rain falls to the earth hitting the leaves and tree branches, slowing the water droplets as it drips back to the soil. Think of it like a sprinkler spreading the raindrops slowly and not all at once.
Slowing water down prevents erosion under the tree’s root system. Still, as the water passes over the leaves and plants under the tree canopy, it purifies the water and releases it back into our streams and tributaries.
Conclusion
Trees are essential to human survival by stripping the air of harmful CO2, which is the primary cause of our climate warming and unsustainable levels on earth.
Planting more trees and protecting what trees we have should be a path in the future as a step to protect us from climate warming. Consider joining Ecologi in that effort.
Trees release oxygen into the air by creating nutrients for a tree’s survival by absorbing CO2 and water. Humans cannot survive without this by-product, and that fact alone should make us in debt to trees.
Not only do they supply humans with the air we breathe, but trees purify the water from bacteria and chemicals. They are also preventing erosion of soil back into our waterways.
So the next time you take a deep breath or drink and a nice clean glass of water, give thanks to a tree.
Maybe you can think of more benefits of trees? I would love to see your comments and share your thoughts on trees. Jim
The featured image by “Sunset-with-Tree” by Chris Sorge is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
