May 18, 2022 | written by: People at Treedom
We don’t just plant trees, we grow them. Why do we do this? Trees provide habitats, give food and create unique ecosystems. But one thing is even more important: without them, life on earth would be impossible. Because trees produce oxygen and store CO₂.
Find out how we work and join our 2022 Earth Day and World Environment Day campaign. We’ll match your commitment: for every tree you plant between 22 April and 5 June 2022, we’ll plant another one. Our goal: 20,000 trees. Let’s green the planet
Let’s be clear: the Earth hasn’t always been as we know it today. About 3 billion years ago, Earth’s first atmosphere was formed, and the bacteria that lived at the time didn’t yet need oxygen. This changed with the emergence of the first photosynthetic microbes, which used the sun’s energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into energy. All this created a not inconsiderable by-product: oxygen.
From then on, these green plants determined life on the planet, through a process known as chlorophyll photosynthesis. Trees played the most important role of all. And they still do.
The amount of oxygen produced varies depending on the species of tree, its age and the density of the wood. However, even a relatively small tree of only 5 metres in height can produce around 10,000 litres of oxygen a year. This should give you a pretty good idea of the importance of trees for the survival of all mammals (us included). Trees give life.
But there’s now another problem related to this incredible ability of trees: the build-up of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere.
The excessive accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activity has led to the so-called “anthropogenic greenhouse effect” and a progressive increase in the average temperature of the planet.
The effects of global warming are most evident in the form of extreme weather phenomena (such as hurricanes, storms and floods), the melting of the polar ice caps and desertification. The balance of the ecosystem on which all life on our planet relies may be disrupted. This is where trees can help. A tree can store up to three tonnes of gas during its lifetime, break it down into its component parts when exposed to light and transform it into organic materials such as wood.
However, reforestation projects must follow certain rules and be strategically planned. In isolation, they are not the answer in the fight against climate change, but they are an important part of it.
Incidentally, trees also filter pollutants from the air and ensure sufficient humidity. These “green power plants” are what shape life on earth through their metabolic processes.
That’s what it means when we say we grow trees. We plant them with determination and a long-term vision. For a planet we can continue to call home in the future.
If you want to contribute to this with us, you can do so with just a few clicks.
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* the other tree that we’ll plant and gift to you may not be the same species as the one you choose to plant.
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