They provide a support system to the environment and without them, you can just imagine having a desert all over the place. They act as carbon sinks, continue the water cycle, control soil erosion and come with other economic benefits to humans. Can you imagine if a responsible government could lace all our roads in Nigeria and most especially in Lagos, particularly, the Lekki-Epe Expressway with luscious green trees? Then, we would be reaping the following numerous benefits;
1. Trees clean the air: Trees improve air quality by absorbing toxic chemicals from the atmosphere. Pollutant gases and odors such as ammonia, ozone, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide are all absorbed by the leaves of trees. Trees also filter particulates from the air, thus, making it clean and free of toxic materials.
2. Trees mask things: Trees can block parking lots, unsightly views or concrete walls. They also act as sound absorbers from close by highways and streets, and create an excellent aesthetic and eye-soothing green canopy. Wind and dust are also absorbed by trees and they equally reduce glare.
3. Trees influence land fertility: Without trees, fertile lands can become infertile or even deserts in the long-term. In other words, trees help to keep the soil particles together and prevent soil erosion as well as flooding. Over time, it boots the quality of the soil, which not only maintains soil fertility, but also replenishes it by anchoring the soil in place. The loss of arable land and the decline in soil fertility is because of topsoil erosion which can be addressed if trees are planted today.
4. Trees prevent soil erosion: Trees offer a magnificent land cover and reduce the speed of storm water runoff. At the same time, it absorbs excess water and stores it for future use. Trees can thus help in preventing soil erosion because it lessens the speed of water flow from the hills and mountains into streams and rivers. Therefore, planting a tree today will result in decreased vulnerabilities to soil erosion.
5. Trees create economic opportunities: Fruits can be harvested on community orchards and sold; a direct source of income. Vocational trainings for youths showing interests in green opportunities are as well an impressive method of deriving economic opportunities from planting trees. Likewise, landscaping and green waste management can offer good opportunities when urban areas realise the importance of planting trees.
6. Tree planting activity encourages diverse groups to come together. Tree planting activities have always provided an opportunity for diverse groups in the community to share events and improve the quality of the surrounding environment. During such occasions, all ages, genders and cultures usually play a vital role to plant a tree, thereby, rewarding the environment.
7. Trees are needed for respiration: Without the trees, we cannot breathe! Through the photosynthesis process, trees take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and give out oxygen which supports our breathing. All living creatures need oxygen to survive and because the trees play an impressive role of availing oxygen, it is imperative to plant a tree today for a sustainable future.
8. Trees conserve energy: The strategic planting of trees around the home is an in-expensive way of cutting back on your heating and cooling needs. It can aid you to save up to 50 per cent on energy costs. Leafy, deciduous trees are particularly recommended and if they are planted around the house then it cushions the building from the blazing heat of solar in summer. Evergreen trees planted upwind can protect the house from extremely cold winter winds.
9. Trees heal: Studies show that patients with view of trees or those who love to enjoy the nature of trees heal faster and are with few complications. For instance, when children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder have access to nature, they heal faster as exposure to trees reduces mental fatigue and improves concentration. Trees are also essential medicine sources and instead of just planting any tree, you can plant medicinal ones such as Cedar, Birch and Beech among others.
10. Trees will mark all seasons: Nature has its way to define and distinguish different times of the year, which is usually visible from trees. If you plant a tree today, you’ll easily know if its summer, spring, fall, or winter; just look at the trees!
11. Trees protect biodiversity: About 80% of all species of plants and animals survival depend on Trees. An increasing number of animal and plant species are disappearing from the face of the earth, and quite a number are at the verge of extinction. The oak and sycamore, for example, provide an excellent urban habitat for squirrels, bees, birds, and possums. In order to protect the planet’s biodiversity, we need to plant a tree today.
We all can see that truly trees are elixir of life. So we need to start planting trees today, and watch out for the part two.
Oniru, an environmentalist, writes from Lagos
