In the USA we have a designated day to celebrate trees. It’s called National Arbor Day and the holiday occurs annually on the last Friday in the month of April. I never wait for a special day of the year or during the week to show my respect for trees. Trees should be respected every day of the year! Even though it is a work of fiction, in real life, we should all be just like The Man Who Planted Trees.
Trees play a crucial role in saving the Earth and the environmental and ecological benefits should never be understated or underestimated. Here are just a few quick facts.
Oxygen and Air Quality: Trees release oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, which is essential for human and animal respiration. Trees also serve as natural air filters by removing pollutants from the air we breathe.
Trees Support Biodiversity: Forests are home to diverse ecosystems, providing habitats for countless species of plants, animals, and fungi.
Water Quality and Conservation: Trees help purify water by absorbing excess nutrients and filtering pollutants before they reach water bodies. Furthermore, trees reduce water runoff by absorbing rainwater, which can help recharge groundwater and mitigate the risk of flooding.
Temperature Regulation and Energy Savings: Strategically planted trees near homes and buildings reduce heat and lower energy consumption for cooling, which in turn, reduces energy bills.
Medicinal Uses: Many tree species have medicinal properties and provide ingredients for traditional and modern medicines.
Conservation of Endangered Species: Many endangered species rely on specific tree species for their survival, making tree preservation critical for their conservation.
Cultural Significance: Many cultures and indigenous communities have deep spiritual and cultural connections with trees, fostering conservation efforts.
The list above is in no way comprehensive. But isn't it enough to make us pause to think before even chopping down one tree or worse, destroying an entire forest?
In an article dated May 2023, published by Scientific American, One Third of the Amazon Has Been Degraded by Human Activities. Human activities? That's us! We're destroying our planet.
It's not just the Amazon Rainforest being impacted by significant deforestation and agricultural expansion, and urbanization. The adverse impact is global! The Indonesian Rainforests; the Congo Basin in Africa; the Boreal forests of North America and Eurasia; and the Chaco Forest in South America. Many countries in Southeast and Asia, have lost large areas of their forests.
Surviving natural disasters such as volcano eruptions, tsunamis, typhoons, etc. is hard enough. But those are acts of God and beyond our control. When it comes to man-made disasters, we can only blame ourselves. Of course, now humans are trying to “fix” what they've destroyed by promoting reforestation and sustainable land use practices.
Ah well! Better to do that than waste money, time, energy, and other precious resources trying to turn Mars into a substitute for Earth. Don't you agree?
Or do you agree with this statement?
Scientists must devise a method for astronauts to obtain breathable air and drinkable water, and engineers must establish a reliable source of power for the first settlement on Mars. While a journey to explore Mars is perilous, many feel the benefits to humanity outweigh the risks. (Sep 27, 2022; Source: Settling Mars - National Geographic Society)
Many feel the benefits to humanity outweigh the risks? Oh really? Many???
Uh huh. NASA Confirmed Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Mars. Since trees contribute to us having breathable air and drinkable water, why don't the engineers plant trees on Mars?
I'll repeat myself, because it bears repeating:
Trees play a crucial role in saving the Earth and the environmental and ecological benefits should never be understated or underestimated.
I will add: I highly doubt humans can come up with anything that's better!
What's it going to be? RED or BLUE?
(The red planet is Mars; the blue planet is Earth.)
Thanks for reading.
Curious bout my other opinion pieces?
Nobody Has a Right to be a Criminal
Significant Dates in American History
Four (4) Nations That Steer the World.
You’re So Old! Must Be Time for You to Die.
Comments About Hate That Bear Repeating
Yes We Know! The World is Going to End!
