Trees and Your Enviroment

When was the last time you planted a tree? Or are you one of the millions of people in the world that delights in felling of trees to gratify their immediate needs and wants? I think this information is for you.

Planting trees in your neighborhood is one of the best things you can do for the local environment and for the planet. It’s no secret that trees help the environment, but you may be surprised by all the benefits that planting trees can provide. Besides producing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide and contaminants from the air, trees have many other social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Environmental Benefits of Planting Trees

Trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. Additionally, they provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. But that’s not all trees do for us!
CO2 is one of the major contributing elements to the greenhouse effect. Trees trap CO2 from the atmosphere and make carbohydrates that are used for plant growth. They give us oxygen in return. The tree in turn releases enough oxygen to sustain two human beings.
Trees also help to reduce ozone levels in urban areas.

Trees reduce urban runoff and erosion by storing water and breaking the force of rain as it falls.
Trees also absorb sound and reduce noise pollution. This is especially important for people who live near freeways. In some cases, a well planted group of trees can reduce noise pollution by up to 10 decibels. Additionally, trees shade asphalt and trees, reducing what is know as the “Heat Island” effect.

How Trees Help to Save Energy

Planting trees can also help cool your home in the summer. In the winter, trees can act as windbreaks for your home and will help you save on heating costs. Trees shade buildings, streets, and homes. If enough trees are planted in cities, the overall microclimate improves and total energy use for heating and cooling is reduced.

Social and Economic Benefits of Planting Trees

Just being around trees makes you feel good. Can you imagine your community without trees? Trees, especially in urban areas, have numerous social benefits. For example, the addition of trees to a neighborhood or a business district can greatly improve the mental and physical health of residents and workers.  Additionally, have you considered that planting a tree can significantly increase your property values?  Houses with trees are also more attractive to visitors, potential buyers, and neighbors. Neighborhoods with lots of trees also report less crime. There is no doubt that if you plant trees in your community, people will see and feel the difference.

As you can see, it's clear that trees are essential to our life on the planet. The great thing is that we as humans can play an active role in planting trees to help offset deforestation and urbanization. Not only can you plant trees in your yard, you can also get involved in local tree planting activities in your communities.

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