There are nearly 3 trillion trees on Earth! We see trees all the time but we don’t always think about why they are important. We need trees to survive on our planet for many reasons.
TREES AND OXYGEN
Trees produce oxygen and we need oxygen to breathe. So we wouldn’t be able to breathe if we didn’t have any trees! That’s why the Amazon Forest, the largest forest in the world, is nicknamed “the lungs of the Earth.”
TREES AND CARBON DIOXIDE
Trees and forests are called ‘carbon stores’. This is because they absorb and store carbon dioxide. This means that there is less carbon dioxide in the air. In one year, an acre of trees will absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide that is produced when a car drives 26,000 miles.
Carbon dioxide is a major cause of climate change so trees are very important in slowing down the process.
If trees are cut down, the amount of carbon dioxide in the air can increase. This is because fewer trees will be storing carbon dioxide. If we burn the trees or leave them to rot, they release carbon dioxide into the air. If we have more trees, there will be less carbon dioxide in the air, and this will help to slow climate change.
TREES AND FARMING
Trees help to protect the soil from erosion and stop desertification, which is when healthy, fertile soil turns into desert. Trees can do this because they have roots which help to hold the soil together. This reduces the impact that erosion has on the soil because the soil cannot be washed or blown away.
Planting trees near crops will also increase the nutrients in the soil, making it more fertile. This means that the crops grow better. Trees near crops also help to protect them from wind and water.