As we move into November we start to come into the full swing of the holiday season. A time spent with family, friends, pets, and other loved ones. We are surrounded by the comforting smells of delicious foods, unbearable desserts, and the scent of whatever seasonal candle mom found on sale last week. During this time of enjoyment, family and, occasionally, stress, we have a great opportunity to remind ourselves what we appreciate most in the world. Is anyone else thinking of trees?
Trees are incredibly underrated and deserve our appreciation. To start, trees don’t talk politics at the dinner table and, usually, smell better than the kids. Jokes aside, trees do so much for us that gets overlooked. Trees form the backdrop of our homes, towns, cities, and landscapes. They hide parts of our world we want unseen and frame-in what we want to show off. As a natural resource, trees make our homes, keep us warm, and make some of our favorite sports possible. We get so caught up in our virtual and professional lives it’s easy to forget about the green giants around us and the work they do.
There are so many reasons to be thankful for trees. We all know trees are used to build our homes and tools, act as a source of food, and can be aesthetically pleasing. However, most of their benefits are invisible, seen only when we look at the big picture and study the data. Green spaces and areas with more trees have healthier residents. People are more likely to exercise outside where trees are present, trees provide refuges from heat, and trees are associated with lower rates of mental illness and heart disease. Trees can reduce stress and remove pollutants in the air, helping us breathe easier in both senses.
Beyond human health, trees better our environment in multiple ways. They help stabilize soil to prevent erosion and reduce flood risk by preventing runoff and absorbing water. We use trees to keep our homes cooler in the summer decreasing costs for air conditioning and reducing our carbon footprint. Trees also act as wind breakers and snow catchers in gusty neighborhoods which reduces soil erosion, dust, and snowdrifts. With the recent push to reduce our impact on the climate, now is a great time to focus on and appreciate our trees. Between the mental and physical health benefits and the environmental improvements trees offer it is clear we have a lot to be thankful for.
So, during this time of thanksgiving, be certain to enjoy some aspect of trees. Whether it’s the sapling you planted in your front yard, grandma’s apple tree, the memories you have on a tire swing, or even the maple syrup on your pancakes or roof over your head, try to take some time to appreciate all trees give us.
For more information on tree benefits please check out Vibrant Cities website or the US Forest Service Urban Forestry research page.
Vibrant cities: https://vibrantcitieslab.com/
US Forest Service: https://research.fs.usda.gov/environment/urbanforestry
The picture above was taken by Colleen Kelly of Middle Island, NY.