How often do we observe trees around us?

In our day-to-day lives whether we are walking the

kids to school or commuting to work, do we stop and look at the trees around us? 🤦🏻
Trees play a significant role in our lives by providing us with oxygen, improving air quality,
supporting biodiversity, and providing resources that are essential for human life and the
environment. If you're a parent, caregiver, or educator who acknowledges the importance of trees
for our planet, you probably understand the role trees play in children's lives. Your appreciation
for nature can have a positive impact on a child's growth and teach them about caring for the
planet in their younger years. 🌳

Tree Planting & the global root of the Problem

We are all familiar with the effects of deforestation, especially in recent years. Globally, the
effects of deforestation have taken their toll on the planet and impacted negatively against
climate change.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it as carbon, helping to mitigate the
effects of greenhouse gas emissions. However, when trees are cut down or burned, the carbon
stored within them is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to the
greenhouse effect and speeding up climate change.

Deforestation also reduces the planet's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, further worsening the
problem. Additionally, deforestation destroys wildlife habitats, reduces biodiversity, and can lead
to soil erosion, affecting the livelihoods of local communities and damaging the ecosystem.

According to the WWF, forest loss and damage are the cause of around 10% of global
warming.

Every year, we lose approximately 10 billion trees, which equates to an area of forest the size of
a football field disappearing every second. If deforestation continues at this rate, the earth's
current stock of approximately 3.04 trillion trees will deplete within 300 years.

Tree facts:

1. A single mature tree can provide enough oxygen for a family of four to breathe for
an entire year.

2. Trees contribute to cooling the earth by lowering temperatures through the shade
they provide and the cooling effect of the air and ground around them.

3. Research has shown that hospital patients with a view of trees from their room
tend to recover faster than those without.

4. Studies have shown that spending time in nature, including around trees, can
reduce stress, improve mood, and promote physical health.
 5. Trees provide valuable resources such as timber, fruits, nuts, and medicinal plants,
supporting local economies and contributing to sustainable development.

6. Trees are natural air purifiers, they absorb harmful pollutants and release oxygen,
improving air quality and reducing the risk of respiratory diseases.

What are the Tree-planting initiatives taking place Globally?

The earth is losing trees at an alarming rate, especially in the Global South. According to a report
by the UN, South America, and Africa have suffered greatly from deforestation. As of 2015,
South Africa had lost 3.6 million hectares of trees while Africa lost 3.2 million hectares.

 The Great Green Wall Africa

The Great Green Wall initiative is an African-led project aimed at creating a green belt of trees
and vegetation across the Sahel region of Africa, stretching from Senegal in the west to Djibouti
in the east. The initiative, launched in 2007, aims to combat desertification, land degradation,
and climate change while promoting food security, job creation, and sustainable development in
the region. The project involves planting a mix of native trees and crops and creating a mosaic of
greenery that can provide multiple benefits, including reducing soil erosion, conserving water,
improving soil fertility, and providing habitat for wildlife. The initiative also involves the
participation of local communities engaged in tree planting, water management, and sustainable
land use practices. Its goal is to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

According to the UN as of 2023, this initiative has already led to the successful completion of
18% of the great green wall.

 Adopt a park program

The largest tree-planting initiative in South America is the Brazilian government's Adopt a
Park program. It was launched in 2020 and aims to restore and protect 4.8 million hectares of
degraded land in the Amazon rainforest by 2030 through a combination of tree planting, forest
conservation, and sustainable land use practices.

The Adopt-a-Park Program facilitates the investment of resources by the adopter towards
services like remote monitoring, wildland firefighting and prevention, combating illegal
deforestation, and restoring degraded areas. The goal of the program is not only to restore
degraded land but also to provide sustainable livelihoods for local communities through the use
of sustainable forest management practices.

Importance and Value of Trees

Since the beginning, trees have furnished us with two of life’s essentials, food and oxygen. As
we evolved, they provided additional necessities such as shelter, medicine, and tools. Today,
their value continues to increase and more benefits of trees are being discovered as their role
expands to satisfy the needs created by our modern lifestyles.
Community & Social Value

Trees are an important part of every community. Our streets, parks, playgrounds and backyards
are lined with trees that create a peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment. Trees increase our
quality of life by bringing natural elements and wildlife habitats into urban settings. We gather
under the cool shade they provide during outdoor activities with family and friends. Many
neighborhoods are also the home of very old trees that serve as historic landmarks and a great
source of town pride.
Using trees in cities to deflect the sunlight reduces the heat island effect caused by pavement and
commercial buildings.

Ecological & Environmental Value

Trees contribute to their environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate
amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife. During the process of
photosynthesis, trees take in carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen we breathe. According to
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and
puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people.” Trees,
shrubs and turf also filter air by removing dust and absorbing other pollutants like carbon
monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. After trees intercept unhealthy particles, rain
washes them to the ground.
Trees control climate by moderating the effects of the sun, rain and wind. Leaves absorb and
filter the sun’s radiant energy, keeping things cool in summer. Trees also preserve warmth by
providing a screen from harsh wind. In addition to influencing wind speed and direction, they
shield us from the downfall of rain, sleet and hail. Trees also lower the air temperature and
reduce the heat intensity of the greenhouse effect by maintaining low levels of carbon dioxide.
Both above and below ground, trees are essential to the eco-systems in which they reside. Far
reaching roots hold soil in place and fight erosion. Trees absorb and store rainwater which reduce
runoff and sediment deposit after storms. This helps the ground water supply recharge, prevents
the transport of chemicals into streams and prevents flooding. Fallen leaves make excellent
compost that enriches soil.
Many animals, including elephants, koalas and giraffes eat leaves for nourishment. Flowers are
eaten by monkeys, and nectar is a favorite of birds, bats and many insects. Animals also eat
much of the same fruit that we enjoy This process helps disperse seeds over great distances. Of
course, hundreds of living creatures call trees their home. Leaf-covered branches keep many
animals, such as birds and squirrels, out of the reach of predators.
Personal & Spiritual Value

The main reason we like trees is because they are both beautiful and majestic. No two are alike.
Different species display a seemingly endless variety of shapes, forms, textures and vibrant
colors. Even individual trees vary their appearance throughout the course of the year as the
seasons change. The strength, long lifespan and regal stature of trees give them a monument-like
quality. Most of us react to the presence of trees with a pleasant, relaxed, comfortable feeling. In
fact, many people plant trees as living memorials of life-changing events.
Trees help record the history of your family as they grow and develop alongside you and your
kids. We often make an emotional connection with trees we plant or become personally attached
to the ones that we see every day. These strong bonds are evidenced by the hundreds of groups
and organizations across the country that go to great lengths to protect and save particularly large
or historic trees from the dangers of modern development. How many of your childhood
memories include the trees in your backyard or old neighborhood? The sentimental value of a
special tree is simply immeasurable.
Practical & Commercial Value

Trees have supported and sustained life throughout our existence. They have a wide variety of
practical and commercial uses. Wood was the very first fuel, and is still used for cooking and
heating by about half of the world’s population. Trees provide timber for building construction,
furniture manufacture, tools, sporting equipment, and thousands of household items. Wood pulp
is used to make paper.
We are all aware of apples, oranges and the countless other fruits and nuts provided by trees, as
well as the tasty syrup of North American sugar maples. But did you know the bark of some
trees can be made into cork and is a source of chemicals and medicines? Quinine and aspirin are
both made from bark extracts. The inner bark of some trees contains latex, the main ingredient of
rubber. How many more uses can you name?
Property Value & Economic Value

Individual trees and shrubs have value and contribute to savings, but it is the collective influence
of a well-maintained landscape that makes a real economic impact and has the greatest effect on
property value. Direct economic benefits come from a savings in energy costs. Cooling costs are
reduced in a tree-shaded home, and heating costs lowered when a tree serves as a windbreak.
According to the USDA Forest Service, “Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air
conditioning needs by 30% and save 20-50 percent in energy used for heating.”