Trees absorb CO2 removing it from the air and storing it while releasing oxygen. Annually, an acre of trees absorbs the amount of carbon dioxide equal to driving your car 26 000 miles. Trees are our main survival tools; only one tree can produce enough oxygen for four people.

They absorb pollutant gases such as nitrogen oxides, ozone, ammonia, sulfur dioxide. Trees also absorb odors and act as a filter as little particulates get trapped in leaves. A mature acre of trees can yearly provide oxygen for 18 people.

Removing trees and replacing them with heat absorbing asphalt roads and buildings makes cities much warmer. Trees are cooling cities by up to 10 F by providing shade and releasing water.

Except for cooling, trees also help to save water. Because of the shade they provide, water will evaporate slowly from low vegetation. Trees need about 15 water gallons a week to survive, and they release about 200-450 gallons of water per day.

Stormwater can be full of phosphorus pollutants and nitrogen. Without trees, stormwater flows into oceans and waters without being filtered. Trees break the rainfall and allow water to enter the earth and seep into the soil. Therefore, they prevent stormwater from polluting oceans. Except for trees, green infrastructure like green roof can help sooth effects of stormwater.

Trees also contribute to boosting biodiversity as they become a food source and natural habitat for wildlife. One apple tree produces about 20 fruit bushels per year which can nourish many birds, insects, and wildlife. It can be planted on a very small surface but has a fantastic environmental effect. Trees that are most planted as homes for birds, squirrels, and bees are oak and sycamore.

If harvested and treated sustainably, trees can become a great renewable source of energy. They are simple to use, have been around since the beginning of time, and with smart forest management they can become an excellent eco-friendly fuel.

Trees are one of the best partners when it comes to agriculture. They act positively in several ways: they reduce soil erosion, increase fertility and help soil obtain moisture. Fallen tree leaves lower reduce soil temperature and prevent soil from losing too much moisture. Decaying leaves that fall onto the ground turn into nutrients for tree growth and promote microorganism development.

Rain and wind are two primary erosion forces that damage the bare soil. As they fall from heights, drops of rain gain power and momentum which is strong enough to penetrate soil once they hit the ground. On the other hand, if the land is dried out, then wind can do significant damage. Trees break droplets of rain and weaken their strength while roots hold the soil together and protect it from effects of wind.

The water cycle is the process by which water falls to the ground as rain. It’s then absorbed by trees and other plants, then released back into the air as transpiration. Constantly ‘drinking’ whenever it can, a single tree will typically release around 250-400 gallons of water back into the air every single day.

Sustainably grown, trees are a source of so many vital foodstuffs. It is well known that the world’s population would have more than enough to eat if everyone followed a vegan diet. We can get plenty of nutrients from trees alone. the firewood they provide enables us to prepare food we could otherwise not digest.

As well as combatting air pollution, trees have a role in combatting the negative impact of noise pollution. A major effect of urbanisation, transport and industrialisation, noise is not just annoying for humans – it can have a devastating effect on wildlife.

As well as muffling sound, tree foliage also provides a barrier against unwanted light pollution. Newly planted trees have helped reduce the effect of pollution all over the world.

As a tree grows, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air through a process called photosynthesis. It stores the carbon as wood and releases oxygen molecules. For this reason, forests act like a giant filter. They remove the greenhouse gas from the air and only disperse it back into the air if they are burned, or decomposed back into the earth.