The Tree Effect

Photosynthesis is the process by which carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the sun are converted into food and other materials (triose phosphates, starch, and glucose). This action has helped regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis, so by basically converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, plants do a lot to maintain atmospheric balance. Without plants, earth would have been long gone by now.

There have been ideas about solving earth's climate issues by planting a lot of trees to get rid of the oxygen. Trees are beneficial in many ways.

• Studies have shown that a tree shading a building can reduce need for air conditioning by up to 30%.

• Healthy trees can absorb up to 48 lbs./year, releasing enough oxygen to support two humans.

• Trees are the cheapest form of carbon dioxide control.

Unfortunately, the amount of trees to completely offset human CO₂ emissions is too great to comprehend. If every American family planted a tree, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would be reduced by roughly one billion lbs. a year, still only 5% of human output.

While it won't relieve us of the problem, it can contibute a lot to eventually getting there. Planting trees doesn't only add life and beauty to a landscape, they remove pollutants from the air and make breathing a more refreshing task. Whenever you find yourself bored, plant a plant. It's a small step to reclaiming a clean planet, and is an easy way that anyone can help.

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