Trees are important, valuable and necessary to our very
existence. It's not too hard to believe that, without trees we humans
would not exist on this beautiful planet. In fact, some claim can be
made that our mother's and father's ancestors climbed trees - another
debate for another site.
Still, trees are essential to life as we know it and are the ground
troops on an environmental frontline. Our existing forest and the trees
we plant work in tandem to make a better world.
1. Trees Produce Oxygen
Let's
face it, we could not exist as we do if there were no trees. A mature
leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a
year. What many people don't realize is the forest also acts as a giant
filter that cleans the air we breath.
2. Trees Clean the Soil
The term
phytoremediation is a fancy word for the absorption of dangerous
chemicals and other pollutants that have entered the soil. Trees can
either store harmful pollutants or actually change the pollutant into
less harmful forms. Trees filter sewage and farm chemicals, reduce the
effects of animal wastes, clean roadside spills and clean water runoff
into streams.
3. Trees Control Noise Pollution
Trees
muffle urban noise almost as effectively as stone walls. Trees, planted
at strategic points in a neighborhood or around your house, can abate
major noises from freeways and airports.
4. Trees Slow Storm Water Runoff
Flash
flooding can be dramatically reduced by a forest or by planting trees.
One Colorado blue spruce, either planted or growing wild, can intercept
more than 1000 gallons of water annually when fully grown. Underground
water-holding aquifers are recharged with this slowing down of water
runoff.
5. Trees Are Carbon Sinks
To
produce its food, a tree absorbs and locks away carbon dioxide in the
wood, roots and leaves. Carbon dioxide is a global warming suspect. A
forest is a carbon storage area or a "sink" that can lock up as much
carbon as it produces. This locking-up process "stores" carbon as wood
and not as an available "greenhouse" gas.
6. Trees Clean the Air
Trees
help cleanse the air by intercepting airborne particles, reducing heat,
and absorbing such pollutants as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and
nitrogen dioxide. Trees remove this air pollution by lowering air
temperature, through respiration, and by retaining particulates.
7. Trees Shade and Cool
Shade
resulting in cooling is what a tree is best known for. Shade from trees
reduces the need for air conditioning in summer. In winter, trees break
the force of winter winds, lowering heating costs. Studies have shown
that parts of cities without cooling shade from trees can literally be
"heat islands" with temperatures as much as 12 degrees Fahrenheit higher
than surrounding areas.
8. Trees Act as Windbreaks
During
windy and cold seasons, trees located on the windward side act as
windbreaks. A windbreak can lower home heating bills up to 30% and have a
significant effect on reducing snow drifts. A reduction in wind can
also reduce the drying effect on soil and vegetation behind the
windbreak and help keep precious topsoil in place.
9. Trees Fight Soil Erosion
Erosion control has always started with tree and grass planting projects.
Tree roots
bind the soil and their leaves break the force of wind and rain on
soil. Trees fight soil erosion, conserve rainwater and reduce water
runoff and sediment deposit after storms.
10. Trees Increase Property Values
Real
estate values increase when trees beautify a property or neighborhood.
Trees can increase the property value of your home by 15% or more.
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