Well-kept landscapes with trees increase property value. Brazil, Colombia, and Indonesia have the highest totals for native tree species.ġ1. There are 60,000 tree species in the world and many are threatened with extinction. More than half of all tree species exist in only one country. In the southern hemisphere, the opposite is true, with rings being thicker on the north side.ġ0. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, you can see the rings of the tree grow slightly thicker on the southern side since it receives more light. Also, a tree’s rings can help point you in the right direction too. In northern temperate climates, moss will grow on the northern side of the tree trunk, where there is more shade. Trees can help you find your way if you get lost in the woods. In Chicago, trees remove more than 18,000 tons of air pollution each year.ĩ. Trees help reduce the effects of climate change.Ī mature tree can absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide each year, removing and storing the carbon while releasing the oxygen back into the air. When we breathe them in, it can reduce blood pressure, lower anxiety levels, and increase pain threshold.Ĩ. This is partly because they release chemicals called phytoncides. Research also suggests that nature experiences help us to feel kinder toward others. A study conducted by the University of Illinois and the University of Hong Kong found that the denser the forest, the lower the stress, which suggests that taking a walk down a tree-lined street could prove beneficial to your mental wellbeing. Research suggests that being around trees is good for our mental and social well-being. Leaves, twigs, and branches on trees, shrubs, and herbaceous growth absorb and deflect sound waves to mask unwanted noise. They reduce noise through a phenomenon called sound attenuation, which is the reduction of sound intensity. Trees block noise by reducing sound waves. Other willows then produce more tannin, making their leaves harder for the pests to digest.Ħ. Willow trees, for example, emit certain chemicals when they’re attacked by webworms. They can also signal danger to other trees so they can start their own defense. Scientists have found that trees can flood their leaves with chemicals called phenolics when the insects begin their raid. Trees are able to communicate and defend themselves against attacking insects. These trees were donated to state forestry services in 19.ĥ. NASA and the US Forest Service wanted to see if the moon’s orbit caused the seeds to grow differently back on earth. “Moon trees'' were grown from seeds taken to the moon during the Apollo 14 mission in early 1971. Not only do they provide shade in the summer, but serve as a windbreak in the winter, too. A shade tree can help cool your home by as much as 20 degrees in the summertime. Strategically planting trees and shrubs can save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills. Planting trees can help reduce your energy costs. Such studies help scientists understand the impact of climate change.ģ. A study by Somaru Ram from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology showed that the increasing heat index and temperature in Sikkim, India has had an adverse effect on tree growth due to high potential evapotranspiration-the rate at which plants lose water through their leaves. It is thin when resources are scarce in the ecosystem. In the years of good growth, characterized by a healthy supply of resources, the ring is thick. However, a tree’s rings don’t only reveal its age, they can also indicate the occurrence of natural disasters such as a volcanic eruption or a drought event. Tree rings can predict climate change.ĭating a tree by studying its rings is called Dendrochronology. Methuselah, an estimated 4,852-year-old ancient Bristlecone Pine, is one of the oldest living trees in the world.Ģ.
Some of the state’s bristlecone pines and giant sequoias are 4,000-5,000 years old. Trees are the longest living organisms on Earth, and never die of old age.Ĭalifornia holds the record for the oldest living trees. And one of the best things about trees is that they add to the beauty of the world. They absorb carbon dioxide and produce breathable air. They provide shelter and food for wildlife.
Trees are more than just part of our natural landscape.