This year, the theme for Earth Day is Trees for the Earth. The aim: let’s get planting!
Five-Year Planet-Saving Plan
Earth Day is nearing its 50th anniversary, which will occur in five years, and the goal is to start planting trees now so that there are 7.8 billion trees by then. We know why trees are so important – they literally keep us alive by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the air – but there is so much more to these beautiful, majestic creatures.
Trees Suck Up Pollutants
It’s not just CO2 but also other pollutants in the air that trees hoover up. These include nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide.
Trees Save You Money on Air Conditioning
Instead of relying on your home’s air conditioning system during summer to stay cool, have more trees in the garden. If you have just three trees strategically placed around your garden, you can decrease your need for air conditioning by up to 50 percent.
Trees are Healing
Ever wondered why you feel better when you spend time in nature? Research has found that people’s moods improve after spending a bit of time outside. That would be a lot less likely without gorgeous trees around you.
Trees Prevent Soil Erosion
The roots of trees help to bind the soil, while leaves and branches help to alleviate the force of wind. This prevents soil erosion from occurring. Soil erosion is so dangerous because when soil is stripped away, the process also removes nutrients in the ground that are vital for plants to grow.
Join the Cause
Get onto Twitter and use the hashtag #trees4earth to join the conversation. You can also do your bit in many ways:
- Plant more trees
- Avoid the use of paper around the house and at work
- Bring more indoor plants into your home. These are great to clean the air inside and encourage green loving even if you don’t have a garden in which to plant trees
- Donate old books you don’t want instead of throwing them away
- Donate money to the Earth Day network
