Trees are not just beautiful objects to look at, they provide a range of benefits for the people and other inhabitants on our planet. It is no wonder that people are so attached to trees, it has been proven that looking at views containing trees can lower blood pressure and reduce stress.
Clean Air
Trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the atmosphere as they breathe. They also filter out harmful noxious gases such as ozone and sulfur dioxide from diesel fumes and factory emissions.
Protection from Natural Disasters
Forests play an important role in the prevention of floods and landslides by absorbing water, acting as wind-breaks during hurricanes, preventing erosion, and moderating temperature. They help control run-off of rainwater contributing to the recharge of groundwater reservoirs providing drinking water for millions around the world.
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Culture and Recreation
Forests provide a place to play and relax. Whether it’s a walk in the park, taking a stroll along a wooded trail, or going camping for a weekend, forests help fulfill our desire to enjoy nature at its most basic level. Even just watching trees grow can be relaxing!
Trees aren’t just beneficial to humans though, they are important to all other living organisms on the planet. They provide habitats for birds, mammals, and insects while also breaking up large areas of land through their dense canopies allowing more diverse plant life to grow underneath.
Recycling and Remediation
Trees help recycle soil nutrients by putting fallen leaves back into the ground as compost and use their extensive root systems to prevent soil erosion.
Food and Clothing
Approximately 22 percent of all fibers and 12 percent could be provided by fast-growing trees, such as cottonwood, eucalyptus, and poplar. In addition, the US Forestry Service estimates that for every 1 percent increase in forested acreage in a given state, annual timber output increases by approximately $11 million, and thousands of new jobs are created.
So next time you walk outside in your yard or grab a tree hug on your way to class remember how important trees are to your life and to the lives of all other living things on this planet.