It seems the treehuggers had it right. There is a lot to love about trees. Allow me to elaborate.
Trees offer multiple benefits. Here are a few:
- Essential for our climate-regulating ecosystems
- Absorb CO2 and produce oxygen.
- Improve air quality by absorbing dust and pollutants.
- Provide habitat, food and shelter for birds, insects and animals.
- Roots stabilize the soil, prevent erosion, improve soil structure, and increase soil’s water retention capacity.
- Reflect and absorb solar radiation, which helps cool the environment.
- Contribute to cloud formation through evaporation, which has a positive influence on local microclimates and precipitation.
- Fallen leaves decompose and feed the soil, improving soil fertility that supports plant growth.
- Feed sugars to the underground mycelium networks that contribute to soil life and support ecosystem health.
- Reduce noise pollution
- Trees are good for our health (ever heard of forest bathing?).
But there’s more. Scientists have discovered that trees are sentient beings with complex relationships. They communicate through mycorrhizal networks. Read The Hidden Life of Trees to learn the details.
Given this information, why would anyone cut down trees to build a road or a house, or because leaves drop on the roof or gutters? It pains me to see clear cutting of trees for new housing construction. I have seen trees cut down just because someone considers them messy when they drop leaves, fruit or flowers.
The wholesale slaughter of trees needs to stop, not only because we need all the benefits they provide, but because life on Earth can’t continue without them. Think about that the next time you want to cut down a tree. If you find it absolutely necessary to remove a tree, please be sure to plant another one in a better location.
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