Trees provide a lovely canopy on a walk, beautiful colors in the fall, and a bright spot in urban spaces. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though. Here are 10 important benefits of trees!

Many Species Call Them Home

Forests provide habitat and refuge to a huge variety of wildlife, including 80% of amphibian species, 75% of bird species, and nearly 70% of mammal species. Many iconic and threatened species depend on forests, too, including giant pandas, African forest elephants, pollinating insects, and migratory birds.

Their Carbon Footprint is Negative

Trees are serious allies in the fight against climate change. There are many reasons why, but one of the biggest is their ability to store carbon. They absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and then store it, with a mature tree able to absorb nearly 50 pounds of CO2 each year. Trees in general, take in about 30% of carbon emissions every year. 

They Help Us Breathe

As trees take in CO2 during photosynthesis, they then produce the oxygen we need to breathe. In fact, the Amazon Rainforest alone produces more than 20% of our oxygen. Forests make the air cleaner, too, by helping remove pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and ground-level ozone.

They’re Natural A/C

Another boon trees provide to the air around us is cooling it down. Not only do they offer shade on a hot day, which can be up to 25 degrees cooler than the surrounding sun-beaten pavement, they can also help keep our neighborhoods and homes cool by being planted in the right spot. It’s estimated that tree-lined streets can help lower temperatures by up to 10 degrees in neighborhoods. Another tool in their natural A/C repertoire is evapotranspiration, which involves absorbing water through roots and evaporating it through their leaves. This extra cooling can also lead to less actual A/C usage, which can help drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

They’re Nature’s Water Filter, Too

Who needs a tap water filter when you have trees? During rainfall, trees slow the excess water before it reaches the ground, which helps reduce the amount of runoff – and the pesticides and fertilizers it can pick up – from entering waterways. Their roots also help remove sediments and other nutrients before they end up in waterways and underground aquifers. These hard-working forests provide drinking water to more than 150 million people in the United States alone. 

Soil is Improved By Trees

During heavy rainfall, tree roots keep soil in place and prevent it from being washed away, as well. They limit soil erosion in general. Trees extract toxins from soils or stabilize them, too.

They Help Protect Us From Storm Surge and Flooding

Due in part to their soil stabilization, trees make storm surge and flooding less severe than they could be. Another reason why is through the amount of rainwater trees stop from immediately reaching streams and rivers. It’s estimated that one tree can intercept about 6,000 gallons of rainfall each year. 

They Provide Medicines

It’s not just protection from short-term calamities that trees offer, either. It’s protection from long-term health issues. About a quarter of medicines are found in rainforest plants, while 25% of medicines used in developed countries are plant-based. As 75% of emerging infectious diseases are also zoonotic, keeping forests intact can help limit the animal-human interactions that pass these diseases to us. 

A Tree Hug Can Make Us Smile

In addition to their physical health benefits, being around trees has also been found to reduce stress, boost our mood, increase our energy, improve our focus, and lessen depression and anxiety. In urban settings, they can also help block out the disruptive noises of cities and the view of harsher cityscapes.

Recreational Opportunities Abound in Forests

Due to their pleasing nature, there are so many outdoor activities we frequently do alongside trees. They include walks, hikes, cycling, camping, and meeting up with friends and loved ones to enjoy their shade and canopy. It may not be surprising, then, that in 2020, there were 168 million visits to U.S. national forests and grasslands. 

Help Increase the Benefits of Trees

This holiday season, join us In our efforts to plant more trees. Click here to help!