Why We Need Trees

What is the true value of trees ... we see them every day ... some are beautiful, some can be deadly poisonous, some are annoying and some are bountiful; but are you aware of the many other benefits of trees and why we need them to survive on planet earth? Perhaps we should stop taking our trees for granted and learn more about them, how to conserve them, and plant many millions more.

Beautiful autumn leaves — “Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” ― Jim Bishop

Through photosynthesis trees produce the gas that we cannot live without: oxygen (O2). As we breathe in, our bodies take in oxygen and when we breathe out, we release carbon dioxide (CO2). Trees do the opposite: they take in CO2 and release O2 [ ... ] and makes the air that we and animals can breathe
From Benefits of Trees

Benefits of Trees

Trees are of major worldwide importance economically and ecologically; provide health benefits and offer a myriad of values to many species:

Purifying the air that we breath
Reducing carbon emissions. Trees clean our air: "Trees absorb carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gasses, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, from the air and release oxygen. One large tree can supply a day's supply of oxygen for four people."
Reducing air, water, noise pollution
Preventing erosion around our homes
Saving energy all year and acting as windbreaks; they keep homes cool in summer and warm in winter
Reducing water pollution and flooding: "In one day, one large tree can lift up to 100 gallons of water out of the ground and discharge it into the air."
Offering shade, food and shelter for humans, domestic and wild animals
Providing homes to countless birds, insects, and other living things
Providing a bounty of food, including nuts, apples, mangoes, and bananas
Providing medicinal benefits; e.g. did you know aspirin is derived from the willow tree

... substances found in native trees in Canada are used both for pharmaceutical and other medical purposes. [ ... ] The Pacific yew tree found in the coastal regions of southeastern Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California and inland areas of northern Idaho and western Montana. Experiments conducted at the National Cancer Institute for the past 10 years have shown that taxol, a drug extracted from the bark of the Pacific yew, is effective in treating cancer.

ReForest London

Deforestation affects global warming as "Loss of forests contributes as much as 30 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions each year" - Deforestation and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions by Toni Johnson

Economic Value of Trees

Yes, the USA Forest Service has calculated the value of a tree. There are estimates based on different criteria, such as type of tree, age, etc., but based on oxygen replacement cost one Red Cedar tree is worth $120,000 per annum. The truth of the matter is that trees are priceless and no amount of money can be placed on them for the overall benefits they return globally.

Scientists have found that for every $1 spent on planting and caring for a tree, the benefits that it provides are two to five times that investment. Benefits include cleaner air, lower energy costs, increased property values, improved water quality, and better storm water control.

USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station's

Following is information from Statistics Canada on the forestry and pulp and paper industries:

Lumber shipments declined by 17.5% to $11.9 billion (in 2006)
Canada was the second largest producer of lumber in the world, with 16% of worldwide production (2005)
The sawmill and wood preservation industry directly employed 54,400 direct jobs and 90,600 in indirect jobs, totalling 145,0000 Canada-wide (2006)
Harvesting raw logs employed 60,000 workers (2006)
The wood chips and paper industry employed another 87,000 workers (2006)

Ecological Value of Trees

Giant trees in Daintree Rainforest, Queensland, Australia — Giant trees in UNESCO World Heritage site, Daintree Rainforest, Queensland, Australia

One reason rainforests are called 'closed' forests is because they are closed ecosystems. Their living parts - plants, animals, and microrganisms, and their physical parts - soil, nutrients and water - are totally integrated. If this dynamic is badly disturbed by fire, clearing, or erosion, nutrients are then lost and cannot be recycled. Extensively damaged rainforest may never return to a pristine state if continually disturbed. But when conditions are right, rainforests are rapid colonisers, advancing around a metre a year.
Sign at Jindalba Rainforest, Daintree Coast, Queensland, Australia

Koalas have a select gum leaf diet & affected by habitat loss

Noisy lorikeets are found throughout Australia

Fruitful mango trees found in tropical climates

Tropical forest walkway, Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Daintree Rainforest, Queensland, Australia

Large Staghorn ferns flourish growing on trees

Trees & Climate change

What are Carbon Emissions

Carbon dioxide (CO2). A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcano eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important long-lived "forcing" of climate change.
NASA Global Climate Change

Deforestation is a major contributor to man-made climate change. This is especially true when old growth forests are logged, cleared for agriculture, destroyed by fires or used for industry. These activities release stored carbon back into the atmosphere thus increasing carbon emissions and warming our climate. This is the Greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases that increase Greenhouse effect. See NASA link on climate change above.

Daintree Rain Forest, Queensland, Australia

No Place Like Home
These tall trees are not only giant sugar factories feeding the forest, they are high-rise apartments housing countless other plants, animals and microorganisms.

In the basement amongst the roots, live worms, fungi and a myriad of tiny soil creatures. butterflies, spiders, orchids, ferns and a multitude of birds live high in the canopy.

Along the trunk and branches exposed tree hollows - some tiny, some large - collect rain and left litter to create moist, fertile mini-habitats. These hollows support many plant and animal species that survive only in these aerial oases.
Sign at Jindalba, Daintree Rain Forest, Queensland Australia

What Else Can We Do

Write to your local Member of Parliament to save our boreal forests, temperate and tropical rain forests; which generate almost half the oxygen in the world
Start a tree petition. Petition your local municipality, provincial, and federal governments to set aside large pieces of land as reserves and parks throughout Canada.
Donate to the World Wildlife Fund to protect a rainforest
Plant trees. If every person in Canada (35 million people in 2013) planted two trees per year we would have an 70 million more trees per annum in Canada. Plant One Million Trees project in Melbourne, Australia Greening the West
Start by planting a tree in your own home garden or neighbourhood for a cleaner, healthier environment. How to plant a tree at home
Think before cutting down trees and when you do plant two or more in its place
Buy a living Christmas tree
Reduce your use of paper products, as many trees are logged for pulp and paper
Consume less trees in our daily lives in simple things like using a cloth instead of paper towels, reduce and recycle paper packaging ... it does not have to be complicated
Use sustainable wood products such as bamboo floors and textiles
Take care of our forests and streams. Join a local community organization to keep our stream's clean

While drought periods may come and go, plant practitioners need to be aware that the negative effects of drought on plant growth and health may continue to be a problem for years to come. It is important to keep this in mind when evaluating the causes of plant problems.

From: "Long-term Drought Effects on Trees and Shrubs"

There is no easy answer to this question of reducing or reversing greenhouse gas emissions. Preserving and planting trees is one way to slow and help reverse global warming trends. Deforestation, especially of tropical rain-forests is not only increasing carbon emissions but as well destroying the habitat of countless animals and plants living in these areas. I recommend you speak to others; learn, and of course ... plant a tree wherever you can. It will improve your life.

Natural forests Pacific Coast B.C. near Toba Inlet — Natural forests Pacific Coast B.C.

Photo Toba Inlet used with permission (Limited copyright)

Links & References

UNESCO World Heritage Site, Queensland, Australia
The Rare Cassowary 2nd largest bird in the world is on the Endangered Species list with only 1200 remaining
Trees You and Co2 Botanical Society of America
Greenhouse Gas Emissions USA EPA
Tree facts from Arbor Day Foundation
Larger older trees absorb carbon dioxide quicker
Here is a simple carbon emissions calculator to see how you are doing
The story of salmon, bears and trees (and how trees grow on salmon) from David Suzuki Foundation
The Canadian Boreal forest - to protect and preserve
Tree responses to drought from Oxford Journals
More tree planting tips from Trees Ontario
CAP Forest fires a growing concern for B.C this summer
BC reforestation crisis

100 year old cedar trees in greenbelt behind our home offer protection,air filtering & a home for a multitude of squirrels, birds, raccoons, frogs, travelling bears & insects — 100-year-old cedar trees in a green belt behind our home offers protection, air filtering & a home for a multitude of squirrels, birds, raccoons, frogs, travelling bears & insects

Joni Mitchell - Lyrics "Big Yellow Taxi"

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot Spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
And put them in a tree museum
Then they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go,
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot