Parents can promote the idea of planting trees in kids by telling them about the importance of trees and the benefits that we humans and other life forms enjoy by protecting trees.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945, stressed the importance of trees in the sustenance of a nation when he said, “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.“.
Our survival on this planet is closely connected to the existence of trees and plants, and talking with kids about the importance and benefits of trees is a great way to spark the interest of environment protection and nature conservation within them.
Trees fight against climatic changes
Trees act as strong barriers against drastic climatic changes. These natural regulators play an important role in keeping the balance of climatic conditions of an area.
Shades provided by trees slow down the evaporation of water from soil, and excessive deforestation and felling of trees results in rapid evaporation of water from soil. Deforestation also contributes to the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in atmosphere, thereby accelerating global warming, so it is extremely important to protect trees.
Trees can also reduce the overall temperature of an area by providing shades and by releasing water vapor to the atmosphere.
Trees are the lungs of the earth
Trees are called the lungs of the earth as they absorb excess carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and release oxygen back into the atmosphere.
As oxygen is vital for the survival of all life on earth, we can observe that trees contribute heavily to the planet by acting as natural air purifiers. They also trap carbon, harmful toxins and other pollutants and also reduce the level of ozone in urban environments.
Trees help in saving energy
Trees help us in conserving a lot of energy while implementing heating and cooling solutions for buildings. The natural shade that they provide and the protection that they give against wind and sun’s heat adds to the energy conservation. In buildings having shades offered by trees less energy is required to keep the building cool during summer months. During winter trees can act as excellent wind breaks there by reducing the energy required for heating the building.
Trees are a living space for other life forms
Trees play the role of habitat for a lot of plants and animals on our planet. From the root systems to their canopy, trees support a variety of life forms by providing them with food and shelter. Since a vast number of plant and animal species depend on trees for their existence, protecting them is extremely important for the conservation of the diversity of life on our planet.
Other factors that make trees important
The benefits that trees contribute to other living things on our planet are innumerable. Let’s take a look at some more factors that make trees important. The complex roots systems of trees minimize soil erosion by holding the soil surrounding the tree in place. Trees also maximize water absorption into the soil and help in ground water recharging.
Since trees play such a vital role in the survival of our life and our planet, it is imperative that we should instill a sense of protectiveness towards trees in our kids. Parents can give them the first lessons to environment protection and conservation by talking with them about these factors and if possible by taking the initiative by planting a tree with them.
