- ll Be The CHANGE an event by the Keep Us Alive NGO ll -

Do you agree?

We humans don't do anything if there is no profit included, right? Here we tell you 22 benefits we get from trees

Oxygen, the most important thing without which we human being can't live. Not only us, but it is also the need of all the other species that inhabit our beautiful planet. The trees provide it to us, in short they are the reason behind our breaths, without them there is no us.

Just think in one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people, that means we need many of them, only the human population is more than 6 billion, add to it all the other beings and just imagine how many of these beautiful trees we should plant in order to make sure our survival.

Trees clean the air, they absorb odors and pollutant gases like nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. We can see it also like this, we pollute our planet building factories and cement blocks, making the air around us unbreathable, endangering our own lives. But they try to limit the damage caused by the humans. Giving us more time to spend with our loved ones then what we would have without them.

Trees bring diverse groups of people together. Tree plantings provide an opportunity for community involvement and empowerment that improves the quality of life in our neighborhoods. All cultures, ages, and genders have an important role to play at a tree planting or tree care event.

Trees cool the streets and the city. Just think at what we do when we are walking from hours under the burning sun and we see a tree in the nearby. We let out a sigh of relief and run toward it, to find shelter. Average temperatures in Los Angeles have risen 6F in the last 50 years as tree coverage has declined and the number of heat-absorbing roads and buildings has increased. Now we let you think, at what would happens if we starts cutting them.

Trees conserve energy. Three trees placed strategically around a single-family home can cut summer air conditioning needs by up to 50 percent. By reducing the energy demand for cooling our houses, we reduce carbon dioxide and other pollution emissions from power plants.

Trees create economic opportunities. Fruit harvested from community orchards can be sold, thus providing income. Vocational training for youth interested in green jobs is also a great way to develop economic opportunities from trees.

Trees save water. Shade from trees slows water evaporation from thirsty lawns. Most newly planted trees need only fifteen gallons of water a week. As trees transpire, they increase atmospheric moisture.

Trees provide food. An apple tree can yield up to 15-20 bushels of fruit per year and can be planted on the tiniest urban lot. Aside from fruit for humans, trees provide food for birds and wildlife.

Trees provide a canopy and habitat for wildlife Sycamore and oak are among the many urban species that provide excellent urban homes for birds, bees, possums and squirrels.

Trees provide wood. In suburban and rural areas, trees can be selectively harvested for fuel and craft wood.

Trees help prevent water pollution. Trees reduce runoff by breaking rainfall thus allowing the water to flow down the trunk and into the earth below the tree. This prevents stormwater from carrying pollutants to the ocean. groundwater supplies.

Trees help prevent soil erosion. On hillsides or stream slopes, trees slow runoff and hold soil in place.

Trees combat climate change. The excess carbon dioxide (CO2) caused by many factors is a building up in our atmosphere and contributing to climate change. Trees absorb CO2, removing and storing the carbon while releasing the oxygen back into the air.

Trees mark the seasons. Is it winter, spring, summer or fall? Look at the trees.

Trees block things. Trees can mask concrete walls or parking lots, and unsightly views. Trees absorb dust and wind and reduce glare.

Trees shield children from ultra-violet rays. Skin cancer is the most common form of
cancer . Trees reduce UV-B exposure by about 50 percent, thus providing protection to children on school campuses and playgrounds - where children spend hours outdoors.

Trees heal. Studies have shown that patients with views of trees out their windows heal faster and with less complications. Exposure to trees and nature aids concentration by reducing mental fatigue.

Trees are teachers and playmates. Whether as houses for children or creative and spiritual inspiration for adults, trees have provided the space for human retreat throughout the ages.

Trees reduce violence. Neighborhoods and homes that are barren have shown to have a greater incidence of violence in and out of the home than their greener counterparts. Trees and landscaping help to reduce the level of fear.

Trees add unity. Trees as landmarks can give a neighborhood a new identity and encourage civic pride.

Trees increase property values. The beauty of a well-planted property and its surrounding street and neighborhood can raise property values by as much as 15 percent.

Trees increase business traffic. Studies show that the more trees and landscaping a business district has, the more business will flow in.

1. Look for the Alternatives for Paper products:

It's important to understand the link between the products you use and trees, since somewhere trees where cut down, processed into pulp, bleached and pressed into the shape of tissues you can use to blow your nose on and paper you can write on, mere change in consumption habit will definitely help us in growing green

To help out this thing you can surely look at the following points and make sure you implement it

Use cloth napkins/ towels/ handkerchiefs instead of paper tissues or napkins
Use reusable containers/bags instead of paper bag
• Use paperless options for bills/banking/ticketing etc

2. Be a Responsible citizen

Find out about local ordinances regarding tree protection
Participate in planting days.
Buy sustainable sourced wood products.
Learn about the state of forests.
Share your love for trees and forests with other people
Donate to a nonprofit working to protect forests
• Join NGOs

3. Remember the 4 R's- Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

Refuse: Refuse the things you don't need maybe you could do with the remaining pages of book rather than buying a new one
Reduce the amount of waste you use! Bring your own shopping bag, use a reusable water bottle, and invest in a good mechanical pencil!
Reuse waste! Could that can make a good pencil holder? Or maybe that bag could be used for again?
• Recycle! If you are fortunate enough to have a recycling program in your area, recycle! It will get used again!

Vrinda: so we have see what trees to do for us and what we should do for them.

Sans: True! But unfortunately we don't do anything of what we are supposed to do. Because we think about our benefits only, not at what they may cause to the plant.

Sam: Abeer do you want to say something on the presentation?

Abeer: I can stay here till tomorrow. Don't worry I'm not planning to bore you that much. I just want to say that We have been talking and discussing about environment problem and deforestation. But we are happy just discussing about it. We do not want to take a step and move ahead.

Sam: Correct! I fully Agree with you. It's a high time we take a step. It's time to raise our voice and not the sea level! Saree Janta Walo! We do not have a problem to daily scold people for cutting trees but why do we have problem to plant one?

Sans: Well said Sam! Why do we have a problem to plant one? Instead of waiting for the other one you do it.

Abeer: You be the first one to make the change and you will be the change. Start contributing doing your part, I know whatever you will do will be just a tiny drop in the ocean. But think like this, that you will not do it, that tiny drop will be always missing. Thus your contribution!

Aishu: So right. Trees are really important for us, for our survival. They need to be protected, if they could do it by their own, we won't be here talking about it.

Abeer: I fully agree with you. We need to be protected. They are just like kids and women, who need our protection. Just like we need to protect the kids because they are our future and the women because only they have the gift of bringing forward the humanity, in the same way we need to protect the trees, because they have the gift of givinglongevity to our planet.

Preet: What Abeer just said makes ponder on many other global issues, which in front of this one can be also put on second level. Supposed there are no trees, which means there is no oxygen, which means the earth will become a desert and arid place, where survival for the human race will be almost impossible, so before you begin to solve other issues, which are also very important, we should concentrate on sorting out what it is the based on our existence. Upon which depends our survival. If there will be no human beings, there will be no other matters to resolve.

Sans: On final note we want you guys to ponder on the following message:

Just wonder how the trees were few years back?

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