Has it ever occurred to you that helping the Earth doesn’t really take millions of dollars. How about saving a planet, one tree at a time? PATT(Plant a Tree Today) foundation’s mission is exactly that. Their projects focus on forest restoration through environmental education, biodiversity, and community benefits. Forest restoration through tree planting will help accelerate recovery of forest structure and diversity, reinstate ecological functioning and biodiversity levels towards those typical of native forest.
Trees have always been a key symbol of the environmental movement and there are many organizations devoting time and energy to planting trees. So the question is why? First and foremost, trees act as natural filters of the air that we breathe. Under conditions, it can provide a means to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees also produce oxygen, enough for ten people to inhale for ten years per tree. Did you know that about 90% of terrestrial animals live in forest-like habitat? Planting trees therefore improve biodiversity. It also helps control soil erosion. Trees play a role in water conservation by slowing down water runoff after periods of heavy rain falls and recharging underground water-holding aquifers. They are also our friend in temperature control. Shade from trees reduces the need for air conditioning in hot locations. Likewise trees can also assist in cold climates; in winter, trees dissipate the strength of winter winds and can lower the winter heating bill. I think the better question now is why wouldn’t you want to plant a tree?
PATT has so far planted 870,365 trees and is gradually reaching its goal of one million. You can be a part of it too! Check out http://www.pattfoundation.org for more information.
Written by Wendy Long, Class of 2016