FYI - Trees

FYI Trees

Let me explain why...

1.  Carbon Dioxide CO2.

Trees store carbon and make nice fresh air

Trees convert CO2 into Oxygen through their leaves.A mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year. 

2.  Trees Clean the Soil.
Trees filter sewage and farm chemicals, reduce the effects of animal wastes, clean roadside spills and clean water runoff into streams.


3. Trees Control Noise Pollution
Trees muffle road noise almost as effectively as stone walls. Tress, planted at strategic points in a neighbourhood or around your house, can stop major noises.

4. Trees Are Carbon Sinks

Firewood from trees. 

To produce its food, a tree absorbs and locks away carbon dioxide in the wood, roots and leaves. Carbon dioxide is a global warming suspect. A forest is a carbon storage area or a "sink" that can lock up as much carbon as it produces. This locking-up process "stores" carbon as wood and not as an available "greenhouse" gas
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5. Trees Shade, Cool and warm.
Shade resulting in cooling is what a tree is best known for. Shade from trees reduces the need for air conditioning in summer.  Studies have shown that parts of cities without cooling shade from trees can literally be "heat islands" with temperatures as much as 7 degrees higher than surrounding areas.

Trees and sheep escaping the hot sun.

In winter, trees break the force of winter winds, lowering heating costs. They also help keep us warm at home by providing firewood.  Every winter we get firewood from trees to keep us warm.  The firewood we get has been planted for building timber.  We chainsaw up the end logs that do not make the grade and split them into firewood.

6. Trees Act as Windbreaks
During windy and cold seasons, trees located on the windward side act as windbreaks. A windbreak can lower home heating bills up to 30%. A reduction in wind can also reduce the drying effect on soil and vegetation behind the windbreak and help keep precious topsoil in place.


7. Trees Fight Soil Erosion
Erosion control has always started with tree and grass planting projects. Tree roots bind the soil and their leaves break the force of wind and rain on soil. Trees fight soil erosion, conserve rainwater and reduce water runoff and sediment deposit after storms.

Trees keep us breathing, cool, warm, quiet and calm.  They keep our soil clean. They store carbon. 

And its only on Arbor day we think about trees? 

By Alice Kerse