Why Are Trees so Important Anyways?
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 09:09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles
Bark Potty is a revolutionary natural pee pad designed to bring an Earth friendly, low-impact indoor dog potty to your home. Made of sustainably sourced bark, our product replaces up to 60 plastic pee pads and helps to reduce your carbon footprint.
Don't worry, no additional trees were harmed in the making of this product - in fact, our bark is sourced from partners that are Forest Stewardship Council-certified which ensures responsible management of our forests!
We all know trees are important in a general sense, by why exactly? In short, trees are absolutely integral to the continued existence of most life forms on this planet, and these are a few reasons why:
1.) Clean Air: Trees absorb carbon dioxide and generate a large percentage of the Earth’s naturally occurring oxygen. This is important because trees are actually responsible for doing a large part to clean our air of the mass amounts of carbon dioxide we pump into it, leaving us with cleaner air to breathe. In one year, one acre of trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people!
2.) Clean Water: Another amazing benefit trees provide is that they conserve water by providing shade. This shade prevents evaporation if the water is needed elsewhere- for example, a freshly watered lawn. When the trees do transpire, or release moisture back into the air, they take in the water through their roots, and expel water vapor into the atmosphere as an integral part of the Earth’s hydrologic cycle. This is a process that can actually be seen from space! Additionally, trees help to cut down water pollution by reducing stormwater runoff that could carry pollutants into rivers.
3.) Biodiversity: Trees increase biodiversity in any given area (urban or heavily forested) by providing homes for tree-loving animals like birds, possums, squirrels, and bees. Additionally, trees offer animals protection from the elements- even if the animals in question don’t actually live in trees. In fact, a study conducted over ten years by biologist Chase Mendenhall and his team of researchers from Stanford University indicated just how much trees do to increase biodiversity. Their findings suggested that by adding a single tree to an ecosystem, bird species numbers could increase from zero to 80
Photo by One Tree Planted
4.) Social Impact: Many great foundations have grown from an initiative to save the planet by planting more trees. Organizations like One Tree Planted and 1% for the Planet were created with that exact goal in mind- and in fact, we here at Bark Potty have partnered with these organizations for this reason!
The simple act of planting trees at a neighborhood event can empower people and bring citizens of all ages, genders, and cultures together for the common goal of improving the quality of life of the community at large. Additionally, Fruit bearing trees in neighborhoods can provide economic opportunities to communities. Additionally, studies have shown that communities with more tree and plant growth experience less vandalism, property crime, and violent crime.
5.) Health: From dampening sound pollution in residential neighborhoods to reducing stress levels and thereby bolstering healthy births, trees provide many amazing health benefits.
In 2005, there were 187,000 pollution-related deaths in the United States alone. Air pollution can irritate chronic illnesses like asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD), as well as worsen cardiac and pulmonary issues. Scientists with the U.S Forest Service postulate that trees are saving about 850 human lives and preventing more than half a million instances of acute respiratory symptoms every day. With this said, it can certainly be argued that planting trees- especially in urban areas- is a necessary, life-saving initiative.
Trees also prevent pollutants from collecting in streams, rivers, and oceans which directly affects our food chain- from the smallest fish to the largest mammal. Additionally, trees provide shade in the hot summer months, reducing UV rays as well as heat-related health issues like heatstroke and skin cancer.
6.) Climate: Climate change, caused mostly by pollutants pumped into the air by humanity’s industrial machine, is one of the biggest threats facing life on our planet today. Fortunately for us, planting trees is one of the most cost effective- and just plain effective ways to curb it. As we’ve already discussed, trees absorb a lot of CO2, which is in fact the largest contributor to climate change that we know of. Scientists agree that implementing a global tree planting program could remove up to two-thirds of the planet’s carbon emissions. If you want to save the environment, join an organization like One Tree Planted and spend a day every other weekend planting trees!
For these reasons and more, it’s obvious that trees are incredibly important for our health, happiness, and planet! That’s why Bark Potty is dedicated to supporting One Tree Planted through our partnership with 1% for the Planet to help plant trees. What’s more, Bark Potty has partnered with the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) to solidify our devotion to social responsibility and to the communities and pets we serve while creating a positive environmental impact.