Each year, 10 billion trees are cut down, also cutting down the chances of future generations’ survival. Find out how you can do your share in saving the planet.
“When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that one cannot eat money.” – Native American saying
Trees are said to be the most essential organisms on the planet. According to Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies ecologist Thomas Crowther, trees cater to an array of ecosystem services for humans. They create an abundant supply of water and nutrients, stabilize soil, absorb carbon dioxide, generate oxygen and provide habitats for every part of ecosystem.
Fast Facts
3.04 trillion. The estimated number of trees worldwide. Accumulated through the use of satellite imagery, forest inventories, and supercomputer technologies, the international team of researchers was able to map the tree population at the square-kilometer level.
A ratio of 422 trees per person. Roughly 10 billion trees are cut down per year. Since the start of human civilization, the study led by Yale University shows that there has been a 46% decrease in the total global percentage of trees.
750 billion trees. The estimate number of trees found in the boreal forests containing coniferous trees and patches of permafrost of North America, Scandinavia and Russia, found to have the highest tree densities. These forests hold 24% of the global total of trees, while 43% of the total or 1.3 trillion trees were found in the tropical and subtropical forests.
Man VS Tree
Since the start of human civilization, negative human activities have become detrimental to natural ecosystems. These include the anthropogenic effects such as land use (ie. conversion of land for agricultural use, industrial and urban development.) As human population increases, the number of trees decline.
Crowther said that the decrease in the total number of trees made significant impacts on climate and human health.
Without trees, there will be higher chance of soil erosion. Its roots anchor the soil. These could lead to more disastrous events like flooding and landslide. Soil erosion could also alter health through silt entering water sources like streams and lakes, which decrease the quality of water.
Tree counts matters especially with the issue of climate change. According to Greenpeace, 300 billion tons of carbon or 40 times the annual greenhouse emission is stored in trees. It filters particulate matter to decrease air pollution. It also creates shades that mitigate the impact of urban heat island effect.
Step up for a Tree
Here are smart ways to save trees.
Paperless Billing. Telecommunications companies today offers paperless billing, you may opt to use this instead of getting your hard copy bill every month.
Choose recycled paper products.
In the modern age of computers and gadgets, you may keep data in soft copies.
In restaurant, use cloth napkin instead of paper napkins.
Be a volunteer. Join organization, which promotes green environment through planting trees.
Web Sources:
http://actrees.org/resources/local-resources/save-a-tree/
http://caboopaper.com/how-to-conserve-trees-10-tips/
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0904/Seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees-Why-latest-tree-census-matters
http://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html
Planet has 10 times as many trees as previous estimate, research finds
http://news.yale.edu/2015/09/02/seeing-forest-and-trees-all-3-trillion-them