TENDING TREES

St. Lucia , Banana Tree Plantation 12/2008 from the series CRUISE

All reproduction rights reserved Wm. Greiner

Hurricane Katrina, in 2005, destroyed an estimated 320 million trees in Mississippi and Louisiana! 367 million tons of carbon dioxide as they decomposed was released into the atmosphere!

 

The shade and wind buffering provided by trees reduces annual heating and cooling costs by $2.1 billion. Each average-sized tree provides an estimated $7 savings in annual environmental benefits, including energy conservation and reduced pollution. A single tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. That means two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of four!

 

Water originating in our national forests provide drinking water for over 3400 communities, and approximately 60 million individuals. One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26,000 miles. Over the course its life, a single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide.

 

An average American uses about 750 pounds of paper every year, and 95% of homes are built using wood. That means each person uses the equivalent of one 100 foot tall, 16 inch diameter, tree every year for their paper and wood product needs.

 

Planting trees can be one of the best things we can do for the environment and our community!