When I was a kid, the main reason I liked trees was because I could climb them, hide behind them and, with a bit of luck, persuade my Dad to build a tree house in one. Since then I've grown to appreciate trees a whole lot more as I've added to my arboreal knowledge over the years. But if you (or let's say someone you know) think of trees as little more than telegraph poles with leaves attached, you might find some of these facts interesting, or even downright amazing.
Most of this fascinating data comes from a tree website about the need for planting more trees and developing the tree industry in Armenia. Because trees are more abundant in the United States, we might tend to take them a little more for granted than the Armenians. However, these points are just as valid to us in America as they are to people almost anywhere in the world. You can find the full text at http://www.armeniatree.org/benefits.htm or you can click on a direct link when you go to my website www.landsteward.org and find this column archived under "The Plant Man".
Did you know that after petroleum and gas, the third most valuable resource in world trade is wood?
Just think of the house you're in right now. There's a good chance that a large part of it consists of wood because trees provide wood for housing construction and much more including farm tools, fences, and even traditional crafts. And of course trees generate pulp for paper, cardboard, and numerous paper goods -- things you most likely use every day.
Trees also supply us with food and medicine. From trees we harvest fruit, nuts, and seeds for people, plus fodder for animals. Despite the development of man-made chemicals, it is important to remember that 25% of prescription drugs worldwide come from medicinal plants, most of which thrive in the wooded areas that generate the valuable herbs.
And trees are truly Nature's wonder "factories". Trees work 24/7 regulating air temperature, cleaning the air, consuming carbon dioxide and producing the oxygen we need to survive. Each year, one mature, 30 foot tree gives a family of four enough oxygen for an entire day.
It is so easy to ignore the trees we see every day, but our life without trees would be almost unbearable. And planting even a few more trees can improve the environment in almost any community.
For example, "The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day," says a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The report also points out: "One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people."
Trees are an excellent investment, whether you're the government of Armenia or a homeowner in the United States. Why? "Trees can boost the market value of your home by an average of 6 or 7 percent," says Dr. Lowell Ponte, quoted at another not for profit site, and "Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent," according to the Management Information Services/ICMA.
Not only that, but trees hold topsoil in place to prevent flooding and loss of farmland and roadways. Trees also protect vital water supplies and shelter crops from wind. And of course forests and woodlands support a diversity of animals and plants, essential to a healthy environment.
In previous columns, I've suggested some ideas for community projects that you might wish to investigate. If you can persuade your municipal leaders to get behind a street tree-planting program, you'll do more than just beautify the infrastructure of your town or city. "There are about 60-to 200- million spaces along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO2 every year, and saving $4 billion in energy costs," according to the National Wildlife Federation. Statistics like that always seem to get the attention of city administrators!
I'll be digging up some more fascinating (and useful) facts about the real value of trees as we get closer to celebrating Arbor Day. By the way, Arbor Day is celebrated on different dates, depending on the state in which you live.
In summary, planting trees as part of your own landscape DOES make a difference, both to the value of your property and to the health and well-being of your family and your community. If you want to ask me about specific trees for your land or for a project in which you're involved, please drop me a line via e-mail. Steve Jones
