Call to Action

Altja river. Credit Margus Opp.

Why should people care about trees? What is the big deal about them anyway? Well, I will tell you all the reasons why you should care and why they are important for climate change and other natural resources that we need to survive and thrive.

First, I want to talk about how trees can help us by giving us more time before climate change ruins us all. Trees can hold lots of CO2 and carbon. Also, trees filter particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide from the air.

Second, we all love animals, but animals have food chains that often depend on plants and small insects. To be fair, some of the tiniest plants and insects live on trees, and you might not even notice them. You might know of squirrels and other bigger animals that you see every day that live in or on a tree. Just think: acorns come from trees, but squirrels eat acorns, so if there were no trees, no acorns, then no squirrels.

Medicine. Credit Med Shadow Foundation.

Third, trees are key ingredients in 25% of all medicines. Have you ever taken aspirin? It comes from the bark of a tree! Trees are even being used to help cure and treat cancer. The sap of a tree can be used as a strong antiseptic or healing aid. Basically, I am saying that trees are like the world's best doctor, keeping us healthy.

The fourth reason is that when it rains, trees help make one of the safest watersheds that you will ever see. If you are in a forested area with not much water, guess what? You probably do not get floods often. Another way they stop floods is a little bit slower, but it still works. They soak up a lot of the water.

Waves. Credit Neverfail.

The fifth reason you should plant trees and protect them is that trees also provide shade and cool our cities by up to 10 degrees, which can help prevent heat-related deaths in urban areas. Even if you live in a slightly cooler area, it still helps just in case.

The final reason that can change the way everyone lives is that in areas where homes, businesses, schools, roads, and parking lots expand, natural tree cover is often lost, along with the vital absorbing capacity of vegetation and soil. I think that is super sad. So the fewer trees there are, the more soil can be lost through erosion and other effects, which can hurt food production.

That is why I think it is important to plant trees and take care of them. Also, next time you think about a tree, just remember that it is one of the things that helps keep Earth and you alive. Please visit the Resources page for ways you can help!