Green Gifting Through Reforestation

Trees are not just a key to the natural ecosystem, they are an essential part of our life experience. From majestic individual trees that have historic significance or are simply beautiful, to a quiet grove of greenery we seek for solitude, trees enrich our life experience simply by just being there.

Trees are the longest lived and largest plant form on Earth and throughout recorded history trees have been acknowledged as symbols of power, wisdom, fertility and life.

Trees are also symbols of immortality, being able to live to considerable age. Pando, a Trembling Aspen located in Utah, USA is considered the world's oldest living tree. Pando is estimated to be over 800,000 years old. Pando is a clonal colony of a single male Quaking Aspen. This massive trees root system covers 107 acres and is estimated to weigh in excess of 6,000 tons which makes it the heaviest known living organism in the world.

Throughout the world many different species of trees live amazingly long lives. The verified oldest measured ages are:
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) 9,550 years
Baobab (Digitata Adansonia) 6,600 years
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) 4,844 years
Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) 3,622 years
Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) 3,266 years
Huon-Pine (Largarostrobos franklinii) 2,500 years
Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata) 2,435 years

Because of their potential for longevity, trees are frequently planted as living memorials. We become attached to trees that we or those we love have planted and tended.

Trees add beauty and grace to any locale. Blossoms in the spring, verdant summer foliage and breathing taking colors in the fall; trees mark the seasons as they enhance the beauty of world. They make life more pleasurable, peaceful and relaxing. The majesty, endurance and strength of trees imparts a cathedral like quality as they help us to experience a primal connection with the earth and our most deeply held cultural and spiritual values.

The tree has always been a cultural symbol. The tree is often used to represent nature or the environment itself. In South America a tribe of Indians hold the belief that the trees of the forest hold up the sky. According to ancient tribal legends, the downfall of the trees will precipitate the destruction of Mother Earth.

Since ancient times, cultures around the world have honored trees with reverence and respect. Cultures in Australia and Asia regard the trees as mythical ancestors. Trees were often worshipped as the living embodiment of their gods and were believed to have holy medicinal applications and miraculous healing qualities for the body, mind and spirit.

The Druids of Europe were particularly influenced by trees and believed that trees possessed great mysterious powers. The Ancient Greeks are also known to have had a highly developed respect for the nobility and power of trees. Painting and pottery from the period display images of gratification and reverence. The Greek culture held the Bay Tree in especially high esteem as the tree was dedicated to their God Apollo and his young son Aesculapius and was held in sacred honor. Aesculapius was the God of Medicine and thus the Bay Tree was believed to have healing power and was used in many medical potions.

Built in the mid-12th century as a tribute to the Mother of the King, Ta Prohm Temple in southern Cambodia is the undisputed capital of the Kingdom of the Trees. The mystical and enchanting jungle temples beauty is explored with delight and left with deep regret. It remains virtually untouched by archaeologists except for the clearing of a narrow pathway for visitors. Because of its natural and pristine state, one can experience the wonder and joy of the early explorers when they discovered these amazing ancient monuments in the middle of the nineteenth century.

Wreathed in silvery mist and shrouded by dense jungle, the temple of Ta Prohm is ethereal in every aspect and conjures up a romantic mysterious aura. Banyan, kapok and fig trees spread their gigantic sprawling roots over giant stones, probing walls and tearing terraces apart as their branches and leaves intertwine to form a lush sheltering canopy over the structures. Trunks of these noble trees twist amongst stone pillars and over cobbled walls. The strange, haunting charm of the temple trees entwines itself about you as you go, as inescapably as the roots have wound themselves about the walls and towers. When visiting the awe inspiring Kingdom of the Trees one quickly becomes aware of how powerfully present and fully alive trees are and one can not escape the all-encompassing connection trees provide in the intricate and fragile web of existence.

More than 8000 tree species, 10 percent of the world's total, are threatened with extinction. Destruction of forests and woodlands and unsustainable logging of valuable timbers stands are causing the devastation of many important species. Clearing and burning of our forests leads to increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, a significant contributor to global warming.

It saddens the soul to realize that the majority of the citizens of the Earth are so accustomed to seeing trees that they take them for granted; forgetting that these noble entities are fundamental to our very existence. Trees act as the living lungs of the planet, sequestering carbon dioxide and returning to us precious, life giving oxygen.

Trees have numerous aesthetic and economic benefits beyond their important role in carbon sequestration and oxygen production. Trees offer shelter, filter water, cleanse the air of pollution, moderate the climate, help prevent soil erosion as well as providing wildlife habitat, scenic beauty and a plethora of items we use daily. We rely on trees for paper products, building materials, fuel, food, medicine and more.

Benefits of Tree Planting

We all desire abundant forests for our children and grandchildren. Trees maintain sustainable soils and control erosion. Retaining soil in place by their root mass, deflecting wind driven rain with their canopies and contributing nutrients with their leaves, trees are crucial to sustaining and improving the earth's ecosystem.

Trees cleanse our air and water. From auto and factory emissions and ozone in industrialized areas to fertilizer and pesticide runoff from rural farms, trees absorb toxic pollutants as they recharge ground water and sustain streamflow. Trees also combat global warming. As trees grow they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the major contributor to global warming. 

We depend on trees for their nutritional bounty. Fruit and nutmeats are a staple of diets around the world. A fruit tree can live for more than forty years and produce more than 10,000 pounds of fruit. A tree truly gives life. Apples are one of the most popular fruit tree choices and a mature apple tree can produce up to 500 apples in a season. Consider planting pear, plum, cherry, apricot, orange, lime, lemon or banana trees. Research what will grow well in your local area. Plant and enjoy an organic harvest grown in harmony with nature. Nothing tastes sweeter!

Trees are used world wide as landscape amenities to soften the harsh outline of buildings, to create green spaces in communities, provide privacy, to screen unsightly views and to dampen noise pollution as well as beautify the property. Shrubs and trees, properly planted and tended on a residential or commercial lot can significantly increase real estate value. Mature, healthy trees add an average of 20 per cent to a property's value.

Planting trees saves energy. Trees planted strategically around our homes will decrease cooling costs in summer and provide a windbreak against the cold winds of winter thus saving on heating expenses. Depending on species and maturity, the cooling shade of trees can reduce home energy consumption by up to 20 percent. Air temperature in the vicinity of trees is cooler than that away from trees. The larger the tree, the greater the cooling effect. Tree planting in urban areas moderates the heat-island effect caused by concrete paving and heat absorbing buildings.

Planting trees feels good! It is immensely satisfying to plant a tree, happy in the knowledge that this gift to the earth will bring joy, shelter and sustenance to our children, grandchildren and countless future generations.

Environmental Stewardship

Problems caused by massive and increasing levels of deforestation worldwide has raised awareness of environmental issues and the crucial role forests play. Climate change is the largest environmental issue the world faces this century. People of all ages throughout the world agree that we must act. However sometimes the task seems overwhelming, the challenge too global for any one person to make a difference. Wrong! Every individual act has rewards and consequences.

Celebrate Life! Plant A Tree!

Plant trees in your yard, volunteer with civic and community tree restoration efforts and contribute to non-profit organizations implementing reforestation.
Consider green gifting. Are you looking for the perfect gift for a birthday, wedding, anniversary celebrations or any milestone occasion? Are you looking for a meaningful way to mark the birth of your child or grandchild? Would you like a special way to memorialize a loved one who has passed away, a unique way to honor a veteran? Giving the gift of a celebration or memorial tree is a unique gift that will last a lifetime.

There is strength in numbers. Together we can make a difference. Take action by living a green lifestyle to reduce your carbon output, educate children about protecting the planet we all share and be part of the solution simply by planting more trees.

Most trees and shrubs in cities or communities are planted to provide beauty or shade. These are two excellent reasons for their use. Woody plants also serve many other purposes, and it often is helpful to consider these other functions when selecting a tree or shrub for the landscape. The benefits of trees can be grouped into social, communal, environmental, and economic categories.

Social Benefits

We like trees around us because they make life more pleasant. Most of us respond to the presence of trees beyond simply observing their beauty. We feel serene, peaceful, restful, and tranquil in a grove of trees. We are "at home" there. Hospital patients have been shown to recover from surgery more quickly when their hospital room offered a view of trees. The strong ties between people and trees are most evident in the resistance of community residents to removing trees to widen streets. Or we note the heroic efforts of individuals and organizations to save particularly large or historic trees in a community.

The stature, strength, and endurance of trees give them a cathedral-like quality. Because of their potential for long life, trees frequently are planted as living memorials. We often become personally attached to trees that we or those we love have planted.

Communal Benefits

Even though trees may be private property, their size often makes them part of the community as well. Because trees occupy considerable space, planning is required if both you and your neighbors are to benefit. With proper selection and maintenance, trees can enhance and function on one property without infringing on the rights and privileges of neighbors.

City trees often serve several architectural and engineering functions. They provide privacy, emphasize views, or screen out objectionable views. They reduce glare and reflection. They direct pedestrian traffic. They provide background to and soften, complement, or enhance architecture.

Environmental Benefits

Trees alter the environment in which we live by moderating climate, improving air quality, conserving water, and harboring wildlife. Climate control is obtained by moderating the effects of sun, wind, and rain. Radiant energy from the sun is absorbed or deflected by leaves on deciduous trees in the summer and is only filtered by branches of deciduous trees in winter. We are cooler when we stand in the shade of trees and are not exposed to direct sunlight. In winter, we value the sun's radiant energy. Therefore, we should plant only small or deciduous trees on the south side of homes.

Wind speed and direction can be affected by trees. The more compact the foliage on the tree or group of trees, the greater the influence of the windbreak. The downward fall of rain, sleet, and hail is initially absorbed or deflected by trees, which provides some protection for people, pets, and buildings. Trees intercept water, store some of it, and reduce storm runoff and the possibility of flooding.

Dew and frost are less common under trees because less radiant energy is released from the soil in those areas at night.

Temperature in the vicinity of trees is cooler than that away from trees. The larger the tree, the greater the cooling. By using trees in the cities, we are able to moderate the heat-island effect caused by pavement and buildings in commercial areas.

Air quality can be improved through the use of trees, shrubs, and turf. Leaves filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other particulates. Rain then washes the pollutants to the ground. Leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air to form carbohydrates that are used in the plant's structure and function. In this process, leaves also absorb other air pollutants-such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide-and give off oxygen.

By planting trees and shrubs, we return to a more natural, less artificial environment. Birds and other wildlife are attracted to the area. The natural cycles of plant growth, reproduction, and decomposition are again present, both above and below ground. Natural harmony is restored to the urban environment.

Economic Benefits

Individual trees and shrubs have value, but the variability of species, size, condition, and function makes determining their economic value difficult. The economic benefits of trees can be both direct and indirect. Direct economic benefits are usually associated with energy costs. Air-conditioning costs are lower in a tree-shaded home. Heating costs are reduced when a home has a windbreak. Trees increase in value from the time they are planted until they mature. Trees are a wise investment of funds because landscaped homes are more valuable than nonlandscaped homes. The savings in energy costs and the increase in property value directly benefit each home owner.

The indirect economic benefits of trees are even greater. These benefits are available to the community or region. Lowered electricity bills are paid by customers when power companies are able to use less water in their cooling towers, build fewer new facilities to meet peak demands, use reduced amounts of fossil fuel in their furnaces, and use fewer measures to control air pollution. Communities also can save money if fewer facilities must be built to control storm water in the region. To the individual, these savings are small, but to the community, reductions in these expenses are often in the thousands of dollars.

Trees Require an Investment

Trees provide numerous aesthetic and economic benefits but also incur some costs. You need to be aware that an investment is required for your trees to provide the benefits that you desire. The biggest cost of trees and shrubs occurs when they are purchased and planted. Initial care almost always includes some watering. Leaf, branch, and whole tree removal and disposal can be expensive.

To function well in the landscape, trees require maintenance. Much can be done by the informed home owner. Corrective pruning and mulching gives trees a good start. Shade trees, however, quickly grow to a size that may require the services of a professional arborist. Arborists have the knowledge and equipment needed to prune, spray, fertilize, and otherwise maintain a large tree. Your garden center owner, university extension agent, community forester, or consulting arborist can answer questions about tree maintenance, suggest treatments, or recommend qualified arborists.

The PHC Alternative

Maintaining mature landscapes is a complicated undertaking. You may wish to consider a professional plant health care (PHC) maintenance program that is now available from many landscape care companies. The program is designed to maintain plant vigor and initially should include inspections to detect and treat any existing problems that could be damaging or fatal. Thereafter, regular inspections and preventive maintenance help ensure plant health and beauty. Refer to our plant health care brochure for more information.

E-mail inquiries: isa@isa-arbor.com

(c) 1998, 2004 International Society of Arboriculture.
UPDATED JULY 2005

Developed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), a non-profit organization supporting tree care research around the world and is dedicated to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees.

Reprinted Courtesy Of: Common Sense Environmental Fund

Covering about one third of the Earth's land service, forests provide many benefits. The most notable direct benefits are an estimated 5000 commercial products, such as lumber, paper, turpentine, and others, worth billions of dollars a year. Forests also provide refuge from hectic urban life and opportunities for many forms of recreation. In many poorer nations, forests are a source of wood for cooking and heating. Forests are also home to many of the world's species. Forests benefit us indirectly by protecting watersheds from soil erosion, and keep rivers and reservoirs relatively free of silt. Forests reduce the severity of floods and facilitate aquifer recharge and they assist in the recycling of water, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and other nutrients.

Despite the great benefits of forests, only13% of the world's forestlands is under any kind of management. In addition, only 2% of the world's forests are protected in forest reserves.

Since the advent of agriculture, about 33% of the world's forests have been cleared and converted to other uses, mostly farms and human settlements. To date, the United States and Africa have both lost about one-third of their forests, while Brazil, the Philippines, and Europe have lost 40%, 50% and 70%, respectively. Moreover, deforestation continues virtually everywhere. By one estimate, 17 million hectares (42 million acres) of tropical rain forests - equal to the area the size of Washington state - are leveled each year. The World Bank estimates that within a decade the number of tropical countries that export wood will drop from 33 to about 10. In India, forestland is shrinking by 1 million hectors (3.75 million acres) per year. At its current rate of harvest, China will lose all of its commercial forests within ten years. In the 1980s, softwood harvest on the West Coast of the United States exceeded sustainable yield by 25% on privately owned land and 61% on national forests.

An aerial view of the Maine North Woods, the Brazilian rainforests or the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest reveal gruesome wastelands where once there were thriving forest ecosystems. Diverse forests have been replaced by the planted rows of tree plantations, to be harvested rather than nurtured as a living system. We continue to clear-cut our forests at a dizzying rate, seemingly oblivious to the economic and environmental reality that soon we will have no remaining natural ecosystems. Logging on both public and private lands is having a disastrous effect on many forest-dependent species.

We believe that the heavy use of forests might not be so bad if investments were made to replant trees at a rate commensurate with cutting. In developing countries, for every 10 trees cut down only 1 tree is replanted. In Africa the ratio is 29 to 1. Replanting programs need to be prioritized by those benefiting wildlife and species diversity verses those having lesser benefit.