The Benefits of Tree Planting

 

The occurrence of global warming has brought about serious environmental problems such as floods, rising sea levels, drought, the extinction of plant and animal species, and the disappearance of coral reefs. Some people blame these effects solely on deforestation. However, the destruction of trees is not the only cause of global warming. Other contributing factors include the excessive use of fossil fuels to operate vehicles and factories, methane emissions from animals, and various agricultural and industrial activities. These activities cause greenhouse gases to be trapped in the atmosphere instead of escaping into space, resulting in the heating of the Earth’s surface.

To address these problems, we need to regulate activities that harm the Earth’s ability to sustain life, and we must also develop practical solutions. In this article, the discussion is limited to tree planting. Plants and trees are essential to human existence, yet over the past centuries, humans have destroyed vast forest areas, contributing significantly to climate change. Restoring the world’s lost rainforests to their original state is difficult because of logging, urbanization, industrial and agricultural development, and the construction of government infrastructure projects. However, we can compensate for some of this loss through reforestation or tree planting. By doing so, we can help mitigate the harmful effects of global warming. The long-term benefits of tree planting include the following:

Trees absorb waste gases and provide fresh air. To sustain life, trees and plants undergo a process called photosynthesis, in which they use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose as food. During this process, plants release oxygen as a waste product—the air that humans and animals breathe. Without photosynthesis, life on Earth would not exist. Through this process, trees help maintain the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere. An excess or deficiency of either gas is harmful. Fewer trees result in higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.

Trees also help provide clean water. Their roots act as natural water filtration systems by absorbing rainwater and trapping pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Beneficial microorganisms around the roots break down harmful substances, helping produce clean groundwater. In addition, tree roots hold soil in place, preventing soil erosion. This reduces the amount of sediment and pollutants that flow into rivers and streams. Trees planted along riverbanks help keep water sources clear and clean.

Trees help regulate temperature and create a more pleasant environment. They provide shade during hot days, and their leaves block sunlight, reducing the amount of heat that reaches the ground. Shaded areas with trees can be 2 to 8 degrees cooler than areas without them. Leaves also release water vapor, which absorbs heat from the air. As a result, the surrounding temperature becomes cooler, more comfortable, and more livable.

Trees beautify the environment and improve human well-being. Garbage in backyards and landfills is an eyesore, while plants and trees with green leaves and colorful flowers are visually pleasing. Green surroundings reduce glare from sunlight and are often associated with life and vitality. The presence of trees, along with birds and insects that depend on them, adds beauty and liveliness to our daily surroundings.

Trees help prevent floods and soil erosion. During rainfall, leaves intercept some raindrops, reducing the amount of water that directly hits the ground. This lessens soil erosion. Tree roots also absorb water from the soil, decreasing surface runoff and the risk of flooding. By holding soil together, roots help prevent landslides. Areas without trees are more prone to erosion, which causes sediments to accumulate in waterways and leads to flooding during heavy rains.

Trees enrich ecosystems and promote biodiversity. They provide habitats for birds, insects, and animals that depend on their leaves, flowers, and fruits. Underground, tree roots support earthworms, fungi, microbes, and other microorganisms. Plants, animals, and humans depend on one another and on their non-living environment to survive. This interaction between living and non-living components forms ecosystems in forests, parks, and even urban areas. If the Earth were to lose all its forest cover, many plant and animal species would become extinct.

We already know the many benefits trees provide. The right time to plant them is now. Trees can be planted in backyards, along city streets, or in wildlife conservation areas. Large-scale tree planting requires coordinated efforts among private sectors, non-government organizations, government agencies, and civic groups. Trees are essential for human survival and for the protection of our planet.

                                                                                                        

Quezon City Adopts Measures to Protect the Environment by Banning the Use of Plastic Bags

Quezon City made a move that would be likely replicated by other cities and towns in the Philippines. It is in connection with its desire to protect the environment by taking up measures against improper disposal of used materials especially plastic bags.

On September 1, 2012, Quezon City started the implementation of its ordinances banning the use of plastic bags by shoppers and business establishments. An ordinance requires a shopper to present an old plastic bag that will be replaced with a new thicker one when he purchases something. A discount will be given to customers who bring their own bag whether plastic or not. A shopper who does not bring any will be charge 2 pesos for every plastic bag that he may use. Similar measures are also passed in the cities of Pasay, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Marikina, Las Piñas, and Manila.

Business establishments are strictly required to comply with the ordinance. A first violation of it will be fined 1,000 pesos, a second violation- 3000 pesos and third violation- 5,000 pesos or revocation of a business license.

Reacting to the ban, 14 large business groups which included the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Philippine Industry, Philippine Exports Confederation, Employers confederation of the Philippines, Pollution Control Association of the Philippines and others protested the ban saying that it will do more harm than good to the environment.                                                  

The group contended that 70 trees need to be cut off to produce a ton of paper bags, and that it needs a gallon of water to produce a paper bag while a similar volume of water can make 116 plastic bags.  They added that a typical paper bag is 6 times heavier than a plastic bag and because of it there will be more amounts of trashes thrown to the landfills, and that the manufacture of paper needs 200% percent more power than the manufacture of paper bags thus resulting to more carbon dioxide emission. Above all, the implementation of plastic bag ban nationwide will result to 200,000 workers of the plastic bag industry losing their job. The business group asserted that climate change and improper waste disposal are the causes of floods and that the implementation of the “Waste Segregation Law” would be a more viable option of protecting the environment instead of banning outright the use of plastic bags.

Despite the argument of the business group, it is a fact that the use of plastic bags has aggravated the effect of climate change. Unlike other discarded materials such as leftover foods, papers and others wastes which decays in the ground after several days or months, plastic bags take decades or even hundreds of years to disintegrate. Biodegradable and non-toxic waste if used properly can even enrich the soil. Plastic bags on the other hand contaminate it. Because it is light and non biodegradable, plastic bags are easily blown by the wind or carried away by waters every which way during rains. Some of them ended up in the waterways. They clog a city’s drainage system. They also pollute the river and the sea. And marine animals get sick when they eat them. In the landfills the plastic bags and other plastic products are the most obnoxious wastes because they do not easily decay unlike other trashes. Burning plastic results to emission of toxic smokes and gasses that are hazardous to the health of the people living near the landfills or the place where those plastics are.

Recycling and segregation are important in proper waste disposal. Biodegradable materials should be segregated from non biodegradable and the toxic from the non-toxic too. Some plastic products like bottles and other plastic containers can be recycled. Recycling can help minimize the production and use of plastic products, and by doing it, we have made and effort in protecting our environment.

In relation to the use of plastic bags, the government of President Aquino has expressed its support on the measures of using recyclable bags in lieu of paper bags.

Related post:

The Use of Plastic Bags and Their Harmful Effects to the Environment