Reforestation can be identified by its very nemesis. The very opposite, deforestation, as the name implies, is the destruction of trees and the scaling back of the tree life population of the earth. Considering that trees have evolved far longer than the human species, it’s an alarming fact that the reduction of woodlands and forests each year equates the size of a European country. Implying this fact with the realization that trees are tools for continued life on earth, therein lies the force of the concern of this situation.
Clearing woodland and forests for other land use has been a common human thread for thousands of years, but since the ever increased race for more resources to live comfortable modern lives, the scale of these operations has massive implications for the eco balance of the earth living systems.
Intentionally re planting or allowing natural growth of forests and woodlands is reforestation. Regrowing trees as a drive to replace what was taking out of the environment is a human endeavor conscious of the implications of disrupting the balance of eco systems. Here are 5 reasons why we need reforestation.
Protect atmosphere
The lungs of the world. Trees are the counter breathers. Producing their energy through photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon through their leaves and via their roots from the soil and emit oxygen back into the atmosphere.
As such, the simple observation is that since human populations have grown, therein implying greater carbon emissions form each individual footprint, trees are a natural leveler for the carbon and oxygen balance in the atmosphere.
Better soil drainage
Intricate, woven nodes of roots matrix through the soil like intersecting roads underground. Trees advance their growth underground before they reach their highest peaks towards the sun. To this end, the tentacles that ground to the earth don’t supply only the support the trees need but also provide water drainage for rainwater. In moments of floods, areas of deforested space mean massive flood implications, thereby destroying towns based around these areas.
Animal eco systems
Wildlife thrives off the food and shelter that forests supplies. Since there is shade from sun, cover from predators and diverse eco systems supplying food for millions of species of wildlife, reforestation could be considered similar to building new towns for displaced peoples. It is this essential for the continuation of animal species and as such, the continued research and discoveries found in studying wildlife that enriches our lives so much.
Soil Fertility
Along with soul drainage, roots purify soil by absorbing minerals and toxins from the ground and covert this to energy to assist with further growth. The death of part of trees, namely their leaves, means that remnant nutrients found in this shedding will fall into the ground and make as compost to continue the cycle of healthy soil for the tree and its habitat to maintain a healthy life.
Economic health.
Trees are a material asset. Despite implying the capital value of their growth, the necessity for fuel and building supplies through timber means that monitoring and reforestation of trees maintains a healthy yield for future wood harvests.
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