| Most people have heard that planting a tree is | | | | more severe of a problem than cutting down |
| beneficial to the ecology, but not everyone has | | | | forests elsewhere. In rainforests trees are cut for |
| heard why. To state the importance of trees in | | | | usable lumber, but other vegetation may be |
| having a healthy atmosphere simply, trees store | | | | removed and burned to allow access. To make |
| carbon in solid form, much of which they remove | | | | the problem even more severe, the lush |
| from the atmosphere. | | | | vegetation of a rainforest, by falling organic |
| Trees, as indeed all plants, acquire carbon for | | | | material over the years, causes a thick layer of |
| growth from the air, taking in carbon dioxide | | | | organic material on the earth. The density of the |
| molecules. Once the carbon is removed, the | | | | trees prevents sunlight from reaching the ground, |
| oxygen is released back into the atmosphere. This | | | | hence the decomposition is a slow process. After |
| process not only removes a greenhouse gas, but | | | | deforestation, however, sunlight and rainfall reach |
| replenishes the atmospheric oxygen so vital to | | | | the organic material and hasten the |
| human and animal life. | | | | decomposition, resulting in a faster return of the |
| Once a tree has assimilated carbon, much of the | | | | carbon to the atmosphere. |
| carbon becomes part of the woody parts, while | | | | One an individual level, planting of trees can |
| some goes into the leaves. The carbon in the | | | | accomplish some cleaning of the air of carbon |
| leaves and twigs decompose after they fall. Some | | | | dioxide. It may be a small benefit on an individual |
| of the carbon from the fallen parts of a tree | | | | basis, but is many people plant one tree the |
| enrich the earth, and become fertile soil for other | | | | benefit is magnified. |
| vegetation, but some does escape back to the | | | | Not everyone can plant a tree. Some people live |
| atmosphere as a greenhouse gas. | | | | in apartments and have no place to plant. Others |
| Removing a tree causes a cessation of its ability | | | | may live in storm areas where planting trees |
| to remove carbon dioxide from the air. Even if | | | | could jeopardize their homes. But everyone can |
| the tree is cut for lumber, the waste materials | | | | help. There are services that, for a nominal fee, |
| may be burned or allowed to decay, whereby the | | | | will plant a tree in a location where it can flourish. |
| carbon combines with oxygen and once again | | | | This service can be provided on behalf of anyone |
| adds to the carbon dioxide content of the | | | | for a fee. Their need to charge for the service is |
| atmosphere. Even if the waste products are used | | | | understandable. They must acquire the land, |
| for some other product, the roots of a removed | | | | procure the seedlings, and provide the labor. |
| tree will decay. | | | | For more information on going green please visit |
| In the tropics, rainforests are being removed | | | | Black Spaniel Gallery at our web address. |
| regularly. Deforestation of the tropics is even | | | | The environment is everyone's responsibility. |