Tree planting is perceived to be the most engaging, environmentally-friendly activity that people can take part in to make the planet a better place. For thousands of years the earth has utilized trees to combat climate change. There is no way to exist without the presence of trees around the globe. They provide both short and long-term benefits as well. Most people decide to enhance their gardens with trees for their beauty and aesthetic appeal, to connect to nature, or because of their calming effect. But, trees contribute more to the environment than we imagine. They enhance air quality, slow down floods, and slow down heavy rains they also prevent heat from escaping and create shade, and also eliminate carbon dioxide from the air.
Trees bring benefits to everything on the planet from sea animals to many people across the world. Trees are not just for the is beneficial to those living around it but to all people, for example in the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The people who live in the vicinity of trees benefit in many ways such as improvement in their level of living. Trees have a positive impact on the mental health of people by reducing stress levels and encouraging outdoor activities. If you’re thinking about making the decision to plant, follow this article to find out the many benefits trees bring to the environment.
Clean The Air
After a walk through the woods you could feel that you are breathing fresh air. It is true because the trees purify the air. They are among the most valuable sources on earth which supply oxygen. Through a process called photosynthesis trees take in carbon dioxide and make oxygen as a by-product. The creatures on earth could not live without oxygen. By planting more trees, we are creating an abundance of oxygen to breathe and ensure our survival. There are many kinds of trees that exist on earth The quantity of oxygen created by each tree may differ.
Trees absorb odors and other harmful gases like ammonia, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and oxygen. They also filter out dust and particulates from the air by trapping them in the leaves and barks. An acre full of mature trees can supply the oxygen needed by 18 people for one year. The planting of trees around your house can significantly save you on air conditioning. You will save money and cut carbon dioxide emissions.
The planting of trees helps reduce the temperature of the air, particularly in urban areas where it’s 9 degrees hotter than those with trees. Because of this, architects and environmentalists came up with solutions for indoor trees as well as green roofs. Green roofs are great for cooling and also remove heat from the air thus protecting the environment. The indoor trees function in the role of natural air conditioners and help to save money on cooling costs and energy bills.
Reduces Greenhouse Gas
Carbon dioxide, also known as a greenhouse gas’ is notorious for its heat-trapping capabilities. The levels of carbon dioxide in the air are a huge deal , as the earth continues to warm up in alarming amounts. Global warming is a consequence of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the destruction of forests and combustion of fossil fuels. We often hear about the carbon footprint, but a lot of people do not realize that it is carbon dioxide or CO2.
Trees are a great way to save the planet by combating the effects of greenhouse gases. According to studies an adult tree could keep 13 pounds carbon or change 48 pounds into oxygen all within one year. A hectare of trees stores 2.6 tons of CO2 in one year. Because of its heat-absorbing and air purifying capabilities, not only does planting trees affect you locally but it affects others around you and contributes to the fight in the fight against climate change.
Reduce the rate of soil erosion
The benefits of planting trees are sustainable to the environment too. The elements of wind and rain are the primary forces that harm soil that is not covered, leading to erosion. As rain hits the ground, it has enough energy and momentum to get into the soil. Trees break down the raindroplets weakening their force and in order to prevent soil damage. Their roots sit their feet on the ground, keeping the soil from evaporating due to storms or rain. Treesalso decrease the risk of landslides occurring in areas of hilly terrain and stop the disappearance of fertile land by slowing down sedimentation in rivers. They also break up wind and keep soil from being carried away. The areas without trees are left as deserts that are uninhabitable. Trees can help these areas by making them oasis, which makes them more livable and productive. Mangroves can help protect coastal areas that are threatened from being swept away by the sea.
The roots of trees stores the rainwater preventing runoff. The study has proven that 100 trees can decrease the amount of runoff that rain causes by up to 400,000 liters!
Guard the Ozone Layer
Every year , we hear about the effects of global warming , as temperatures rise. It is due to the fact that the people replacing forests with absorbing roads and buildings, which makes cities warmer. The planting of trees can reduce ozone layer pollution, as carbon dioxide is the most well-known greenhouse gas. It is important to note that ground-level pollution from ozone is different from the ozone layer, which is very high in the air. The aerosol cans’ pollutants and refrigerants could have destroyed the atmospheric ozone that absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Trees absorb nitrous oxides which make up the ground-level ozone when people burn fossil fuels. In some areas, the ozone, which is a poisonous component, is visible in the form of smog that covers a city.
The presence of trees reduces the potential health and environmental negative effects of ozone that can be found in the air. Once inside plants leaves and the gases are absorbed and converted to ozone, which reduces the pollution to the environment. More trees, especially in urban areas, means that there will be more breathable air , and temperatures will be moderate.
Trees are our primary survival means by providing more oxygen, blocking sunlight removing heat from the atmosphere as well as providing cooling in urban areas and streets.
Make sure you prevent water Pollution
With a variety of substances in the air stormwater is a magnet for pollutants, dirt, as well as bacteria that pose the contamination of clean water in a variety of places. It is often worsened by human activity and contains phosphorus and nitrogen pollutants from fertilizers and other waste. As rainwater hits places like roads and roofs it transforms into stormwater. This could contain oil, heavy metals, grease, pesticides and other chemicals contaminating our waterways. There are trees that break up the rain and allows water to get into the ground. This helps reduce the risk of pollutants from stormwater flowing into streams and oceans.
Planting trees is like planting a sponge to filter this water and help recharge the water supply in the ground. As a result providing more clean water to use.
Conserve Energy
Trees aid in lowering the temperature and keeping a place cool. Trees planted strategically in the vicinity of homes and buildings cut the use of energy for cooling and heating by 30. This means that you can save on the cost for air conditioning cutting down on carbon dioxide and other pollution produced by power plants.
A lot of companies are focused on using renewable energy sources seeing the negative effects of fossil fuels. If trees are grown sustainably they could be an excellent sustainable fuel sources. Trees planted in urban areas help reduce the ‘heat island’ effect by absorb light energy and then reflecting it into heat. Leafy trees provide shade during hot days and heat buildings in winter as they shed their leaves at this time. Not only do trees help cool the local region, but they also cool the entire globe. Water evaporating from trees creates low-level clouds, which reflect the sun’s rays, cooling the Earth’s surface.
Save Water
Trees are a great way to conserve water. Because trees shade the landscape, the water from low vegetation will be evaporated slowly. The trees that are newly planted only need fifteen gallons of water in the course of a week. As trees grow the more they grow, the amount of atmospheric moisture increase. Because trees help cool the air, you will use less water to water lower plants such as the flowers and crops grown under the trees. Trees are the major component in forming clouds and generating rain. If more rain falls than normal, the amount of groundwater is likely to rise. Trees also absorb water and snow purifying it and transferring it to the aquifer through their roots. This means cleaner water for use following drilling. Planting trees is the most environmentally friendly method to save groundwater.
Offer Habitat
Trees boost biodiversity as they serve as a habitat as well as a food supply for many species. It is evident that regardless of where the trees are planted they will be followed by other species of plants and wildlife are also attracted. Trees encourage diversity, as other organisms like bacteria and fungi are present in different areas of the tree. They allow birds to nest in the trees and help make the soil fertile. The oak and the sycamore are the most frequently planted to provide shelter to squirrels, birds, and insects. Oak trees can house as many as 280 types of insects, which feed birds as well as other animals.
When it is hot animals seek shade and shelter beneath trees while being near their food sources. Some parts of the tree which appear dead, also known as ‘snags’, provide a home for many small mammals and birds to use for feeding, storing food, and for perching. Deforestation of trees is the major factor which causes animals to disappear from their habitats and cause them to disappear. When you plant trees, you assist wildlife like birds, frogs, raccoons among others get an area to call home.
Help Protect The Ecosystem
There is no doubt that our planet’s ecology is altered as many things are influenced by humans. To address this problem, it was the United Nations General Assembly created the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to enhance the quality of life. An effective way to do it is plant trees, and safeguard the places where the majority of people live especially in cities. Trees regulate the cycle of water across the globe. Trees absorb light energy from the sun and convert it to chemical energy through photosynthesis. Forests contribute to this cycle by absorbing carbon in the trees that clean the air. They also help regulate the level of humidity in the atmosphere since they absorb rain before release it back into the atmosphere.
The planting of trees can also improve the soil’s condition. The roots bring minerals to the surface, giving it an increase in nutrition. They naturally remove carbon and harmful substances from the soil benefiting other plants. As the leaves fall, they decompose and give nutrients to the soil. Deforestation is a negative impact on the atmosphere. This is a clear indication that planting more trees can stop this issue and decrease temperatures in the atmosphere. As forests provide a home for insects and animals, they also protect the ecosystem which is why it is important to plant more trees.
Trees Offer Economic Opportunities
Trees provide a livelihood to many people. The forests contain timber, wood fruits, and natural resources that have economic value. Fruits gathered from trees can be sold for profit and earn a living. Trees are renewable, biodegradable energy sources. Fuelwood, wood, and fibers are used as raw materials for paper, building materials and many other things. The wood by-products like barks are used to make vitamin supplements, medicine vanilla flavoring, toothpaste. The textile industry depends heavily on tree products such as cotton and jute to make diverse items.
Commercial areas with trees draw more customers as they’re willing to go on longer shopping excursions and pay more to park. They also enhance to the value of property. The homes that are surrounded by trees sell higher than those that do not have. Management of green waste, landscaping, and training for youth interested in green jobs is a huge way to foster economic opportunities that come from trees. Tree planting can also provide an abundance of jobs. More than 10 million people are employed in wood industry.
Conclusion
As we have seen, there are many advantages to planting trees for the environment. By strategically planting trees, you can give life to your neighborhood, enhance your living conditions and will help fight climate change. Trees also come with tons of other benefits such as reducing noise, protecting us from harmful UV rays, lowering frost in the agricultural zones as well as improving our health and lessening stress. There’s plenty of room for sustainable businesses that aim to produce products that cause less damage to the environment. If you are adding another seedling to a forest or adding an existing one to your garden the idea of planting a tree is always an ideal idea.
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