Fact or Fiction Friday TREES!!!

RSS

Fact or Fiction Friday - TREES!!! 🌳

Trees actually do more harm than help the environment.

of course we know this is false - however following are some interesting facts about the benefit of trees and all of it's uses.

There are uncountable numbers of benefits of trees. Some of them are mentioned below:

Trees clean the air.
Trees increase property values and business traffic.
Trees prevent soil erosion.
Trees slow water runoff.
Trees reduce noise pollution.
Trees combat climate change.
Trees provide oxygen.
Trees provide a habitat for wildlife.
Trees cool the streets and cities.
Trees prevent us from UV Rays.
Trees provide medicines.
Trees give us food.
Trees create economic opportunities.

Value of trees

Trees improve air quality.

Trees are sometimes called the lungs of the Earth because they absorb pollutants through their leaves, trapping (or “sequestering”), and filtering contaminants in the air. Like all green plants, trees also produce oxygen through photosynthesis.

Trees improve water quality and reduce flooding and erosion.

A tree’s leafy canopy catches precipitation before it reaches the ground, allowing some of it to gently drip and the rest to evaporate. Tree roots hold soil in place, reducing erosion. In these ways, trees lessen the force of storms and reduce the amount of runoff into sewers, streams, and rivers, improving water quality. One hundred mature trees can intercept about 100,000 gallons of rainfall per year.

Trees temper climate.

Trees lower air temperatures and humidity; they can also influence wind speed. Evaporation of water from trees, or transpiration, has a cooling effect. Cities develop “heat islands” because dark roofs and pavement absorb solar energy and radiate it back. Trees in parking lots have been shown to reduce asphalt temperatures by 36 degrees Fahrenheit and car interiors by up to 47 degrees Fahrenheit.

Trees conserve energy.

Three or more large trees strategically placed on sunny sides of a house shade it from the hot summer sun, reducing air-conditioning costs by as much as 30 percent. Deciduous trees are best for this use because they lose their leaves in winter, exposing the house to the warming winter sun, which lowers the energy needed to heat the house. Coniferous trees, because they retain their needles year-round, serve to reduce wind when placed on the north and northwest sides of a building, resulting in significantly lower winter heating costs.

Trees are good for the economy.

Economic analyses have found that the value of homes near trees is 9 to 15 percent higher than homes without. Research shows that shoppers linger longer along a shaded avenue than one barren of trees and are even willing to pay more for goods and services.

Trees create habitat for plants and animals.

Wherever trees are established, wildlife and other plants are sure to follow, ensuring a healthier ecosystem. Trees provide shelter and food for a variety of birds and small animals.

Trees improve health.

Research demonstrates that exposure to trees has a relaxing effect on humans, reducing stress and imparting a sense of well-being. Hospital patients with a window view of trees recover faster than those without. Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are better able to concentrate after time spent in outdoor green settings.

Trees reduce crime.

Data show that apartment buildings with high levels of greenery had significantly fewer crimes than those without any trees.

Trees reduce noise pollution and can serve as screens.

A belt of trees 100 feet wide and 50 feet tall can reduce highway noise by up to 10 decibels, reducing the sound volume by half. Densely planted trees can also block unsightly views.

Trees promote community.

Trees can enhance a community’s sense of pride, and ownership. Active involvement in tree planting programs leads to a stronger sense of community and the promotion of environmental responsibility and ethics. Planting programs also project a visible sign of change and provide the impetus for other community renewal and action programs.

What products are made from trees?

Most people think of lumber and paper. While that is true, this is just the beginning of the list of tree products we use every day.

What are Trees Used For?

The answer you get here probably depends on who you ask. A gardener is likely to point to the benefits of trees growing in the backyard, providing shade on warm days and habitats for birds. A carpenter might think of lumber, shingles or other building materials. In fact, everything made of wood is made from trees. That certainly includes houses, fences, decks, cabinets and doors that a carpenter may have in mind. If you give it more thought though, you can come up with many more items. A few tree products we use regularly include wine corks, toothpicks, canes, matches, pencils, roller coasters, clothespins, ladders and musical instruments. Paper Products Made from Trees Paper is likely the second tree product that comes to mind when you think of items made from trees. Paper products made from trees are made from wood pulp, and there are many of these. Paper to write or print on is one of the main tree products used every single day. Wood pulp also makes egg cartons, tissues, sanitary pads, newspapers and coffee filters. Some leather tanning agents are also made from wood pulp.

Other Things Made from a Tree Cellulose fibers from trees make a large array of other products. These include rayon clothing, cellophane paper, cigarette filters, hard hats and sandwich bags.

More tree byproducts include chemicals extracted from trees. These chemicals are used to make dye, pitch, menthol and scented oils. Tree chemicals are also used in deodorants, insecticides, shoe polish, plastics, nylon, and crayons.

A tree byproduct of papermaking, sodium lauryl sulfate, serves as a foaming agent in shampoos. Many drugs come from trees as well. These include Taxol for cancer, Aldomet/Aldoril for hypertension, L-Dopa for Parkinson’s disease, and quinine for malaria.

Of course, there are also food products as well. You have fruits, nuts, coffee, tea, olive oil, and maple syrup just to list a few.

Products from Live Trees