The Importance of Trees

Importance of Trees

From their majestic canopies and radiance on our landscapes, to their root systems and mycorrhizal network, the importance of trees are absolutely essential to our shared ecosystem. Trees store carbon, remove excess CO₂ from our atmosphere, stabilise soil preventing run-off, absorb storm water, prevent water pollution, remove dust and fumes, and have forever provided two of our most used necessities: food and oxygen, they are vital for our survival. Also providing habitat for millions of organisms which continually evolve around them, they also provide additional aid including shelter and protection. With many more benefits of trees being discovered, humanities modern lifestyle is amplifying their significance for our survival and the need to plant more, and to protect and preserve.

Ecological & Environmental Value Facts

• During the process of photosynthesis, trees consume CO₂ and produce the O₂ we breathe.
• One acre of forest absorbs up to two and a half tonnes of CO₂ per year. This is equivalent to one and a half households electricity consumption in one year.
• One acre of forest produces enough O₂ for up to 18 people to breathe per year.
• The forests in the UK are estimated to cover only 13% of the overall land area.
• Globally, trees occupy only 30% of land area.
• A single tree can be home to over 300 species of insects, 150 different species of lichen and over two million species in total, also including Archaean’s, Excavata, and bacteria.

Providing Habitat for Wildlife

Providing shelter for animals and humans from the heat of the summer, and cold winter nights frost, trees provide crucial habitat for much of the UK’s wildlife, hosting a variety of nests for birds, bats, and small mammals. For instance, Oak trees are found to support over 280 species of insect, which in turn provide food for the surrounding wildlife. Large cavities within mature trees are sunken hollows or open areas occurring when the tree has suffered some injury followed by decay, providing shelter, and feeding stations for many owl and bat species from the decaying fungi, also hosting many insects. The ivy surrounding the stem of the tree also offers shelter and is home to many insect populations providing further food sources from the nectar and berries.

Economy & Environment

Trees provide us with fruits and medicines and are cultivated to make wood and paper. For example, trees such as apple, pear, cherry, crab-apple, elder, hazel, walnut and juniper found in orchards, produce fruit for cultivation. These Orchards are grown into a diverse habitat including area shrubs, grasses and wildflowers all supporting an array of wildlife, whilst supporting economic growth. Within the plant kingdom, many species of tree are used for traditional and modern medicines extracted from the tree roots, bark, wood, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. For example, willow bark provides us with Aspirin, a medicine treating pain and fever.

Happy, Healthy Life

When the summer heat arrives, trees in the city provide us with shade and release water vapour through their leaves helping to clean the air we breathe. Both in their natural environment and urban areas, a tree’s aesthetical appearance masks the somewhat dullness of man-made structures; bringing colour back to the busy city streets, aiding wildlife connections and helping us to reconnect with nature. Opposed to bricks and cement, trees are a much more preferred method of residential privacy. There are numerous studies suggesting woodland, parkland, city, and garden trees have improved moods, lowered blood pressure, and enhanced wellbeing by reducing stress. Simply by looking at trees or exercising around them can help to eliminate stress related hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.

Water & Soil

Trees collect a substantial amount of rainwater, assisting with retaining groundwater, helping to reduce the amount of wasted clean water, and natural flood prevention. When large areas of trees are removed, rain rapidly runs off the land causing flash flooding, the water in these areas becomes contaminated with chemicals and other pollutants washed off of fields damaging delicate aquatic ecosystems. Forest buffer zones surrounding still water bodies, riparian systems, such as streams and rivers, are protected from storm run-off, however, with no trees to prevent this occurrence, sediment from soil quickly causes siltation. Tree belts and hedge rows also play a vital part in protecting land, particularly alongside farmed land, acting as barriers helping to prevent soil loss from rain and wind, they act as critical wildlife corridors, maintaining species richness, and help to maintain crops by improving the soil ability to absorb and retain rainwater, fallen leaf litter provides nutrients for soil, and helps to maintain a moderate soil temperature, and deeper-rooted species protect and hold soil structure.

Lost Habitat arboriculture services provide care and maintenance for trees at any stage, from planting to storm damage removal and professional tree inspections. Specialising in all types of tree care resulting in a complete tree service to clients.