Calling all lovers, specifically, tree lovers. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we thought we would wax poetic about what we hold near and dear to our hearts here at TreeEra…trees. We have long espoused the countless benefits that trees provide over the years and in honour of V day we have rounded up some of the best below.
Reason#1: Trees are social beings like us. โThey can count, learn and remember; nurse sick neighbours; warn each other of danger by sending electrical signals across a fungal network known as the โWood Wide Webโ โ and, for reasons unknown, keep the ancient stumps of long-felled companions alive for centuries by feeding them a sugar solution through their roots.โ According to Peter Wohlleben author of the hit book ‘The Secret Life of Trees’.
Reason #3: Trees pay us back. Scientists have found that for every $1 spent on planting and caring for a tree, the benefits that it provides are two to five times that investment. Benefits include cleaner air, lower energy costs, increased property values, and improved water quality and stormwater control according to the USDA Forest Service.
Reason #4: Trees provide jobs. Forests provide jobs to almost a million people (directly and indirectly) across Canada. For engineers, foresters, biologists, skilled tradespeople, and many others, it just makes sense to make sure forests are kept healthy and managed sustainably.
Reason #5: Trees release chemicals that can make us happier. Itโs been proven that just looking at trees can make us feel happier, less stressed, and more creative. Thatโs partly because they release chemicals called phytoncides. Research has shown that when we breathe them in, it can have amazing effects, reducing blood pressure, lowering anxiety levels, and increasing pain threshold โ and they can even boost our levels of anti-cancer proteins.
