Plant at least one native tree this year
George Washington didn't lie about it, and neither will we: We all take part in the cutting down of trees every single day.
Yet we all know that planting trees is good, while cutting them down is bad. And while this statement is an overly simplistic way of looking at the situation, it's basically true.
Trees provide the habitats and resources that many of the Earth's creatures (including humans) rely on. They also store a massive amount of carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere.
About 16 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation and logging – more than the emissions from all the world's cars, trucks, ships, trains and planes combined. Although stopping logging completely isn't likely to happen anytime soon, we can help to compensate for deforestation by planting trees.
Planting a native tree can help counteract deforestation emissions and act as an important step in the restoration of critical forest ecosystems. And of all the greenhouse gas mitigation options available, growing trees is one of the few that actively remove greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere.
The Planet's LungsBecause CO2 and other gases circulate throughout the atmosphere, trees can help reduce Earth's greenhouse gas concentrations from anywhere on the planet – including your backyard. The same "urban forests" that shade our yards, beautify our cities and support wildlife populations also absorb an estimated 83.7 million tons of CO2 annually. That's as much as the lifetime emissions of about a million U.S. cars and trucks.
So by planting just one tree, you help keep an average of 0.8 metric tons (about 1,800 pounds) of carbon dioxide out of the air during the tree's lifetime. As musical instruments go, that's heavier than two grand pianos.
But why stop there? If every American planted one tree, we would prevent the emission of more than 253 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the emissions generated by powering more than 22.4 million American homes for a year.
The "How To"
Get a shovel and start digging!
If you've got the space, plant a tree in your yard. If your yard is full or you live in an apartment, work with a local government to plant native trees on public lands, or join (or organize) a project restoring trees to a park or schoolyard near where you live.
Whether it's in your back yard or the city park, choose a species native to your area – they are generally lower maintenance, adapted to local soil, rainfall, and temperature conditions, and will provide important habitat for local wildlife as they absorb carbon.
Check out a field guide to local trees from the library (or just seek one out online) and start planning (and planting!) for your community's future.