“I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree …”
Here on the Coast, we enjoy the beauty of majestic live oaks. These mighty trees bend with constant winds sweeping across the Gulf. They have survived hurricanes, tornadoes, construction and commercial development. They have provided shade and respite from our sweltering summer heat, as well as food and shelter for many creatures that inhabit our beautiful coastline.
Whether we grew up with trees or learned to appreciate them later in life, few can deny that trees play an important role in enhancing our environment.
So, what are the benefits of trees? Here are some of their major advantages:
1. TREES COOL YOU DOWN
Trees provide shade. Neighborhoods with lots of pavement absorb more heat and can be five to eight degrees hotter than surrounding areas. These areas also stay hotter later into the night. A tree’s shade acts like a natural air conditioner and can even keep down the energy costs of our actual air conditioning systems, which are increasingly working overtime.
2. TREES CLEAN THE AIR
Trees’ food-making process, photosynthesis, involves absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and storing it in its wood. Trees and plants will store this carbon dioxide throughout their lives, helping slow the gas’s buildup in our atmosphere. Older trees do this better than younger trees, so it’s important to save older trees rather than just plant younger replacements.
Trees remove the kind of air pollution that is most dangerous to our lungs: particulate matter. This pollution arises from the burning of fossil fuels and can reach dangerous concentrations in cities, as well as in neighborhoods near highways and factories.
3. TREES CONTROL SOIL AND NUTRIENTS
Tree roots, especially fine, feeder roots, extend as far out from the tree as the tree canopy. These roots stabilize the soil and help to control water runoff, providing more water and soil nutrients to the surrounding areas and helping prevent the erosion of soil into streams and rivers.
4. TREES CONTROL NOISE
Trees planted along property lines help buffer winds and control noise levels. Have you ever seen concrete abatements along the highway? Trees planted in succeeding rows will mitigate street noise or noisy neighbors.
5. TREES HOUSE WILDLIFE
From our windows, many of us can see how much our feathered and furry neighbors enjoy their “high-rise apartments.” Even a single tree can provide a vital habitat for countless species.
6. TREES BOOST OUR WELLBEING
A study by The Nature Conservancy shows that spending time outdoors, including taking a walk among the trees in a city park or even your own backyard, correlates with a drop in anxiety and depression – not to mention the physical benefits of this activity.
