The Lions Club of Kingsville focuses on the environment as one of its areas of service. This week, we investigate the positive impact of trees on our environment.
Trees are needed for oxygen, habitats, fruit production, fuel and heating, paper, and many everyday products. Despite how much we need trees, we are not taking care of our environment.
An astounding 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are cut down each year, according to the Rainforest Action Network. Their blog The Understory features an article How many trees are cut down every year?
Trees and plants photosynthesize to produce oxygen. Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct.
Forests provide habitats for many animals. A single tree can be home to hundreds of species of insect, fungi, moss, mammals and plants. One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization focused on global reforestation, answers the question: Why Trees?
These are all important to our survival. Without our beautiful biodiversity, animals’ food chains will collapse.
Water is filtered naturally by trees. When water droplets fall, they can be too harsh, as in a heavy downpour. The leaves capture the rapid falling water droplets and let them down gently. This is important for soil absorption. The ground water is then filtered through root systems.
Trees can also be used for cooling cities. Asphalt, due to its dark colour, creates more heat. Trees are always a great idea to help cool an area and create shade on a hot day. This means less air conditioning and less energy used. This will also help your wallet!
Read more about Keeping Cool With City Trees by visiting the website Arborist Now.
Trees can also be planted around a secluded property or agricultural fields as a wind block.
If you would like to help the environment, plant a tree, and encourage your friends and family to plant trees as well.
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Excellent article. This message is especially important here in Essex County, where we have a very low amount of tree cover. I liked the links that were provided too.
Windsor Essex definitely needs to focus on connecting fragmented oak Savannah pockets via planting of native tree species! Would definitely help with the areas frequent flooding causing so much damage. I’d just love to see our suburbs and city landscapes cooled down with native trees as well, that was a great point the article brings up!
excellent points
A great reminder for everyone of the importance of trees. Every living tree is important to our environment from our most expensive landscape trees down to what some call weed trees, Yes some varieties are more important than others such as our natives, but every tree out there contributes to our environment, our eco system and to our birds and wildlife. Never under estimate the worth of our trees, this world needs them.
Wonderful article! Trees have so many benefits to us and our planet
Yes we need more trees! Go after the developers who cut down mature tree forests. Population needs to be slowed down. Stop immigrant. A lot of things need to be changed but it’s all about money and greed.
Far too much cement and pavement in the towns, cities and at shopping plaza parking lots. We always need more trees, not just for shade.
When is a tree not just a tree? Every day! Thanks for highlighting the many benefits of planting and encouraging trees. It breaks my heart when properties change hands and the new owners cut down mature trees.
Some very revealing facts. Too many people do not realize the many benefits of trees in the environment. Too many times new developments do not consider the value of trees that are already there, and cut the down. So sad. Yes, need to plant more trees.
What a great read, with very interesting facts! Thank you for sharing. Hayden and Nolan plant trees every year with their scout and cub groups, which they love and so do I. A great lesson for them and a great way to help in the community.