Menu

why Trees?
  • Plantation of trees create low-skill jobs. Forests provide jobs to around 1.6 billion people in the world.
  • It directly impacts carbon reduction as more trees we plant more we slow deforestation, the greater Earth’s ability to lock carbon out of the atmosphere and slow global warming.
  • Meets the need of timber, fuel wood, fruits and flowers.
  • It sustains forest ecosystems and provides habitat for wildlife.
  • Forests are a largely untapped medical resource.
  • Overall tree plantation benefits current and future generations.

According to U.N. FAO, 2.2% or about 4.55 Million hectares of Pakistan land (according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics) is under forests. Dec 17, 2018

It is observed that Pakistan has lost 42,000 ha of forest or 1.66% per year in between 1990 and 2010 meaning Pakistan lost approximately 32% of its forest cover.

Tree Facts

  1. Earth has more than 60,000 known tree species.
  2. A single tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. That means two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of four! A mature tree removes almost 70 times more pollution than a newly planted tree.
  3. Three trees planted in the right place around buildings can cut air-conditioning costs up to 30 percent.
  4. The shade and wind buffering provided by trees reduces annual heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars.
  5. One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26,000 miles.
  6. Over the course its life, a single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide.
  7. Trees generate jobs and contribute raw materials for buildings, newspapers, books and more than 15,000 other forest products. Trees are renewable, biodegradable and recyclable. Wood by-products become such products as vitamins, plastics, vanilla flavoring, photographic film, toothpaste and medicines.
  8. By planting 20 million trees, the earth and its people will be provided with 260 million more tons of oxygen. Those same 20 million trees will remove 10 million tons of CO2.
  9. Trees provide shelter and food for wildlife such as birds, squirrels, and bugs. Groves of trees provide food and cover for larger mammals, such as raccoons and deer.
  10. Trees make people feel good. Workers are more productive when they see trees along their commute routes and from their office windows.
  11. Trees in the landscape relax us, lower heart rates, and reduce stress.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PLANTING TREES

Trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. Additionally, they provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. But that’s not all trees do for us! To see just how much trees are essential to the planet and to humans, let’s look at the following statistics:

CO2 is one of the major contributing elements to the greenhouse effect. Trees trap CO2 from the atmosphere and make carbohydrates that are used for plant growth. They give us oxygen in return. According to ColoradoTrees.org, about 800 million tons of carbon are stored in the trees that make up the urban forests of the U.S. This translates to a savings of $22 billion in control costs. Mature trees can absorb roughly 48 pounds of CO2 a year. The tree in turn releases enough oxygen to sustain two human beings.

Trees also help to reduce ozone levels in urban areas. In New York City, a 10 percent increase in urban canopy translated to a reduction of peak ozone levels by around 4 parts per billion. (Source: Luley, Christopher J.; Nowak, David J. 2004. Help Clear the Smog with Your Urban Forest: What You and Your Urban Forest Can Do About Ozone.)

Trees reduce urban runoff and erosion by storing water and breaking the force of rain as it falls. The USDA reports that 100 mature trees can reduce runoff caused by rainfall by up to 100,000 gallons!

Trees also absorb sound and reduce noise pollution. This is especially important for people who live near freeways. In some cases, a well planted group of trees can reduce noise pollution by up to 10 decibels. (Source: New Jersey Forest Service.)

Additionally, trees shade asphalt and trees, reducing what is know as the “Heat Island” effect.

TOP 22 BENEFITS OF PLANTING TREES

Here are 22 of the best reasons to plant and care for trees or defend a tree’s standing:

  1. Trees combat the greenhouse effect: Global warming is the result of excess greenhouse gases, created by burning fossil fuels and destroying tropical rainforests. Heat from the sun, reflected back from the earth, is trapped in this thickening layer of gases, causing global temperatures to rise. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major greenhouse gas. Trees absorb CO2, removing and storing the carbon while releasing the oxygen back into the air. In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of CO2 produced when you drive your car 26,000 miles.
  2. Trees clean the air: Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.
  3. Trees provide oxygen: In one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people.
  4. Trees cool the streets and the city: Average temperatures in Los Angeles have risen 6°F in the last 50 years as tree coverage has declined and the number of heat-absorbing roads and buildings has increased. Trees cool the city by up to 10°F, by shading our homes and streets, breaking up urban “heat islands” and releasing water vapor into the air through their leaves.
  5. Trees conserve energy: Three trees placed strategically around a single-family home can cut summer air conditioning needs by up to 50 percent. By reducing the energy demand for cooling our houses, we reduce carbon dioxide and other pollution emissions from power plants.
  6. Trees save water: Shade from trees slows water evaporation from thirsty lawns. Most newly planted trees need only fifteen gallons of water a week. As trees transpire, they increase atmospheric moisture.
  7. Trees help prevent water pollution: Trees reduce runoff by breaking rainfall thus allowing the water to flow down the trunk and into the earth below the tree. This prevents stormwater from carrying pollutants to the ocean. When mulched, trees act like a sponge that filters this water naturally and uses it to recharge groundwater supplies.
  8. Trees help prevent soil erosion: On hillsides or stream slopes, trees slow runoff and hold soil in place.
  9. Trees shield children from ultra-violet rays: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Trees reduce UV-B exposure by about 50 percent, thus providing protection to children on school campuses and playgrounds – where children spend hours outdoors.
  10. Trees provide food: An apple tree can yield up to 15-20 bushels of fruit per year and can be planted on the tiniest urban lot. Aside from fruit for humans, trees provide food for birds and wildlife.
  11. Trees heal: Studies have shown that patients with views of trees out their windows heal faster and with less complications. Children with ADHD show fewer symptoms when they have access to nature. Exposure to trees and nature aids concentration by reducing mental fatigue.
  12. Trees reduce violence: Neighbourhoods and homes that are barren have shown to have a greater incidence of violence in and out of the home than their greener counterparts. Trees and landscaping help to reduce the level of fear.
  1. Trees mark the seasons
  2. Is it winter, spring, summer or fall? Look at the trees.
  3. Trees create economic opportunities: Fruit harvested from community orchards can be sold, thus providing income. Small business opportunities in green waste management and landscaping arise when cities value mulching and its water-saving qualities. Vocational training for youth interested in green jobs is also a great way to develop economic opportunities from trees.
  4. Trees are teachers and playmates: Whether as houses for children or creative and spiritual inspiration for adults, trees have provided the space for human retreat throughout the ages.
  5. Trees bring diverse groups of people together: Tree plantings provide an opportunity for community involvement and empowerment that improves the quality of life in our neighbourhoods. All cultures, ages, and genders have an important role to play at a tree planting or tree care event.
  6. Trees add unity: Trees as landmarks can give a neighbourhood a new identity and encourage civic pride.
  7. Trees provide a canopy and habitat for wildlife: Sycamore and oak are among the many urban species that provide excellent urban homes for birds, bees, possums and squirrels.
  8. Trees block things: Trees can mask concrete walls or parking lots, and unsightly views. They muffle sound from nearby streets and freeways, and create an eye-soothing canopy of green. Trees absorb dust and wind and reduce glare.
  9. Trees provide wood: In suburban and rural areas, trees can be selectively harvested for fuel and craft wood.
  10. Trees increase property values: The beauty of a well-planted property and its surrounding street and neighbourhood can raise property values by as much as 15 percent.
  11. Trees increase business traffic: Studies show that the more trees and landscaping a business district has, the more business will flow in. A tree-lined street will also slow traffic – enough to allow the drivers to look at the store fronts instead of whizzing by.

From: www.treepeople.org

TREES ARE OUR PLANET’S LUNGS

We have all heard about how trees help the environment, but do we know how exactly? Metaphorically, trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. What does this mean?

Carbon Dioxide or CO2 is one of the major contributing elements to the greenhouse effect. Trees trap CO2 from the atmosphere. Studies have shown that urban forests of the U.S store 800 million tons of CO2. Mature trees can absorb roughly 48 pounds of CO2 a year. The tree in turn releases enough oxygen to sustain two human beings.

In urban areas, trees can help reduce urban runoff and erosion by storing water and breaking the force of rain as it falls.

Trees have other benefits in urban areas as well. For one, they absorb sound and  thus reduce noise pollution. If you live by a major freeway, you can appreciate sounds absorbed. Studies have shown that in some cases, a well planted group of trees can reduce noise pollution by up to 10 decibels.

For urban areas that are quite hot, addition of trees help shade asphalt and reduce what is called the “heat island” effect. Reducing heat is so important in regards to helping people save energy that the Environmental Protection Agency encourages cities to grow trees. To determine exactly how much energy is saved by a trees cooling effect, studies have shown that one tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners running 20 hours a day.

Trees aren’t only beneficial for warm climates and summer heat. In the winter, they can act as windbreaks for your home and help you save on heating costs. The Journal of Horticulture claims that saving on heating costs can reach as much as 25 percent!

What are some other quick facts regarding trees and how they save energy and help the environment? Here are a few:

 
  • As few as three trees properly positioned can save the average household between $100 and $250 annually in energy costs.
  • Fifty million shade trees planted in strategic, energy-saving locations could eliminate the need for seven 100-megawatt power plants.
  • Shade from two large trees on the west side of a house and one on the east side can save up to 30% of a typical residence’s annual air conditioning costs.
  • Rows of trees reduce wind speed by up to about 85%, with maximum reductions increasing in proportion to visual density. Because even a single row of dense conifers can cause large reductions in wind speed, effective windbreaks can be planted on relatively small house lots. Compared with an open area, a good windbreak that does not shade the house will save about 15% of the heat energy used in a typical home.
  • Leafy tree canopies catch precipitation before it reaches the ground, allowing some of it to gently drip and the rest to evaporate. This lessens the force of storms and reduces runoff and erosion. Research indicates that 100 mature tree crowns intercept about 100,000 gallons of rainfall per year, reducing runoff and providing cleaner water.
  • Trees reduce noise pollution by absorbing sounds. A belt of trees 98 feet wide and 49 feet tall can reduce highway noise by 6 to 10 decibels.
Added to cart
Home