CLIMATE
Tree planting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to tackle climate change caused by pollutants and harmful greenhouse gases. A single mature tree absorbs 48 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and releases oxygen back into the air. If we scale that up to 1.3 million trees, over 2,500 tonnes of pollutants are removed from the air each year thanks to trees—that is equivalent to the weight of 2,500 Volkswagen Beetles! When communities plant trees, they reduce the devastating impacts of climate change in their local area and around the world.
WILDLIFE
Trees provide food and shelter to hundreds of species, including insects, fungi, birds, and small animals, such as beavers and squirrels. Trees also create an environment that enhances growth and diversity, helping other plants flourish. Furthermore, trees provide shade, reduce water and air temperatures, and contribute to the overall health of aquatic ecosystems by providing habitat, shelter, and food for species such as otters, beavers, turtles, and fish.
FRESH AIR
Trees clean the air we breathe by absorbing a third of the world's emissions each year. Through their "pores" trees absorb and filter harmful gasses such as nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and other pollutant particles, releasing clean oxygen in their place. The exponential increase of carbon dioxide levels caused by mass deforestation and fossil fuel emissions means that we must increase the output of healthy forests to help keep us healthy and mitigate climate change.
WATER
Trees serve as natural sponges, collecting and filtering rainfall and releasing it slowly into streams and rivers. They serve as the most effective land cover for maintaining water quality. Their filtration powers help maintain our health, as well as the health of the ecosystem. What's more, forest cover has been directly linked to the reduction of water treatment costs. Forests provide these benefits by filtering sediments, and other pollutants from the water in the soil before it reaches a water source, such as a stream, lake, or river.
HEALTH
Our health and well-being are intricately connected with the health of our natural environment. Forests are essential in supporting healthy human populations. Trees clean the air by filtering airborne pollutants, such as smog and pollution in our cities, which have negative effects on our health. Furthermore, experts have determined that forests and green spaces have been linked to a significant decline in stress, improved rehabilitation, and faster hospital recovery rates.
ENERGY
Trees help us save energy in a variety of ways. They can reduce a household’s energy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 25% - proper placement of only three trees can save an average household between $100 and $250 in energy costs per year. When our homes become more efficient, we use less energy and rely less on carbon-intensive power plants. This, in turn, reduces their carbon dioxide output, thereby benefiting our environment.
