In recent times, the importance and value of trees has become increasingly clear to us, particularly with the acceleration of the human made climate and ecological crisis and the increased pressure for land and space in our towns and cities.
Not only do trees play a vital and integral role in our environment, but we are also beginning to understand how important they are to us on a psychological and physiological level, too. The more you think about it, the more you realise how important they are to us. Here are a few things that trees do for you …
Intrinsic beauty
Trees have their own presence, intrinsic beauty, and value.
If we go back far enough, we are descended from tree dwellers, and they have a visceral impact on us.
It is not something you can put a value on, but as society has moved away from its connection to trees and the use of wood, it is becoming necessary to place a monetary value on trees and the services they provide us, to justify their retention.
The development of the Natural Capital Economy is the underlaying principle in the process of putting a monetary value on a tree but finding a way to represent the true value of trees is challenging.
For now, it’s either based on market values, putting a price on amenity value or calculating the cost of the ecosystem services that a tree or woodland provides.
This list is a reminder of the many roles, functions, products and services that trees provide us with, and mixes it in with various ways we have devised to measure their value.
Mitigating the Climate and Ecological Crisis
In these times of climate change and ecological crisis, perhaps the greatest value of trees to us is the impact they have on the earth’s cycles and their potential to mitigate the imbalance that we have created.
Our trees, woods and forests influence the global carbon, water and energy cycles and as we have deforested our planet, so those cycles are becoming out of balance.
The human made climate crisis exacerbates the imbalance and accelerates it through our carbon and other polluting emissions.
Trees are a key part of the solution because they are the ultimate carbon capture and storage machines. (Woodland Trust)
Woods and forests are carbon sinks, absorbing carbon and locking it up for centuries. (Woodland Trust)
The entire woodland ecosystem plays a huge role in locking up carbon, including the living wood, leaves, dead wood, surrounding soils and vegetation. (Woodland Trust)
A young mixed species wood can capture 400+ tonnes of carbon per hectare and lock it up in the trees, roots and soil. (Woodland Trust)
Canopy Cover
We can’t plant our way out of this crisis but replacing the 40% of forests we have felled through re-afforestation and increasing canopy cover in urban areas is a good place to start.
Increasing canopy cover will help mitigate the effects of climate change while providing many more benefits to urban areas.
Protect what we have got: The best way to increase canopy cover and sequester carbon is to protect and keep the trees, woodlands and hedgerows that we already have
Plant more trees
The next best way is to plant more trees, hedgerows and woodlands, wherever we can.
We need to plant the Right Tree, in the Right Place, for the Right Reason.
Here are a few reasons why:
Trees Provide Ecosystem Services
Trees produce the air that we breath: Trees produce oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis as it breaks down carbon dioxide and water to produce the sugars that it needs.
On average, one fully grown tree produces nearly 118kg of oxygen each year.
Trees sequester carbon: A tree can absorb up to 150kg of CO₂ per year, sequester carbon and consequently mitigate for climate change.
Urban trees improve our air quality: Trees intercept polluting particles and can cut outdoor and indoor pollution by 50%³
Planned trees can reduce airborne particulate matter by between 9% and 24% and can cool an urban area by 2° C.
Trees absorb pollutant gases such as nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulphur dioxide.
The leaves of road-side trees are so good at absorbing pollution that they’ve even been shown to halve pollution levels inside the home.
Urban trees help prevent flooding: Trees intercept rainwater – which reduces the risk of flooding and prevents pollutants being washed down to the sea.
Interception by leaves and stems can reduce the amount of rainfall reaching the ground by as much as 45%
Grass and tree pits can slow the flow further, reducing runoff by 99% and 60% respectively compared to tarmac.
In the UK, the value of trees for flood protection is estimated to be £6.5 billion. (Woodland Trust)
Trees help to cool our urban climate and reduce the urban heat island effect: By releasing water vapour from their leaves, trees create a cooler microclimate.
Trees provide shade which also cools streets and urban spaces thereby mitigating the urban heat island effect.
The value of urban cooling provided by trees, in the UK, is estimated to be £6.1 billion. (Woodland Trust)
Measuring the Value of our Trees: Urban forests do more than beautify the scenery. They represent an important investment in environmental condition, human health and the overall quality of life. (TD Economics – the influence of trees in Toronto).
The trees in the City of Toronto’s urban forest are worth an estimated $7 billion, or about $700 per tree.
Toronto’s urban forests provides residents with over $80 million, or about $8 per tree, worth of environmental benefits and cost savings each year. For the average family household, this works out to $125 of savings per annum.
For every dollar spent on annual maintenance, Toronto’s urban forest returns anywhere from $1.35 – $3.20 worth of benefits each year.
Trees and the landscape
Trees provide continuity in our landscape: Trees provide a community focal point; they are landmarks and encourage civic pride.
Trees provide continuity and history in the landscape – they are the living history of our communities.
Trees are the key component in green infrastructure they also provide links between our ecological networks and green corridors.
Trees mark time – they mark the seasons.
Trees create habitat for wildlife: Trees are not just trees – they provide habitat for birds, mammals, insects and also support other plants such as lichens, bryophytes and mosses.
Trees improve biodiversity through their flowers, nuts berries and provision of habitat for other species.
Trees keep soil nutrient-rich.
Whether it’s an ancient woodland or a city park, the presence of trees has a huge impact on biodiversity (Woodland Trust).
A study in Merseyside found that the amount of green spaces – and in particular trees – such as parks, gardens and cemeteries, had the greatest influence on an area’s ecology.
Amenity value – the total aesthetic value of the UK’s woodlands is around £2 billion
Trees provide amenity value through their intrinsic beauty and by providing a sense of place.
Social, Cultural and Historical Value
Trees provide us with a spiritual connection: In Norse cosmology, the Ash tree Yggdrasil is central to the cosmos and is considered very holy. Its branches extend to heaven and its roots extend to significant locations.
To the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Slavs and Teutonic tribes it was the oak that was most venerated and was considered scared to their supreme Gods – Zeus, Jupiter, Dagda, Perun and Thor respectively. (Trees for Life)
For the Celts, the oak tree was also the tree of life and it was a symbol of longevity, wisdom and strength. Trees were often thought to be ancestors, representing rebirth and a gateway to the spirit world and the Druids (knower of trees) also practiced their rights in oak groves
The yew was also a tree that the druids held as sacred. It is the Celtic tree of the Winter solstice and represents the return of the light and the eternal cycle of birth and death. It is this symbolism of death, rebirth and eternal life that is the foundation of the relationship between yews and places of worship and many yew trees pre-date the Christian use of a spiritual site.
The Green Man is also found throughout history but is often thought to be another link between the new beliefs of Christianity and the Pagan beliefs it replaced. He is often found carved in stone or wood in medieval churches and cathedrals.
Many of our oldest trees are found in churchyards (Ancient Yew Group) and among the oldest is the Defynnog Yew in St Cynog’ churchyard, near Sennybridge, which is said to be 5000 years old.
Our churchyards also provide unique spaces for trees and nature – God’s Green Acre
In today’s society, trees remain central to faith and have multi-faith significance – the Abrahamic religions all have trees at the centre of their faith.
In Christianity, the apple was the Tree of Knowledge and the eating of its fruit the original sin.
Judaism also has the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden and the Torah is often referred to as the The Tree of Life.
In Islam, trees are ‘the thoughts of God’ and planting trees is regarded as an act of charity (sadaqa) and the planter receives blessings from all who benefit from it.
Allah’s messenger said, “There is none among Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift from him.” www.khaleafa.com
Myths and legends: The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is where Robin Hood and his merry men are said to have hidden and hatched their plots.
Ancient and Veteran Trees: Thought to be the oldest tree in Europe, the Fortingall Yew, Perthshire is said to between 5,000 to 9,000 years old
Witness Trees: The Ankerwyke Yew is an ancient tree of at least 1,400 years old which is said to have witnessed the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. It is also said to be the location where Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn.
The Boscobel Oak is where King Charles II is said to have hidden from the Roundheads after the battle of Worcester in 1651.
Gravity was discovered in 1666 by Sir Isaac Newton, after being hit on the head by an apple at his mother’s home in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire.
The Tolpuddle Martyr’s tree is a Sycamore of 336 years old in Tolpuddle, Dorset. It is said to have been the meeting place, in 1833 where six local agricultural worker met to discuss low wages and poor living conditions and were trialled under the 1797 Mutiny Act.
In Hiroshima there are Camphor trees Cinnamomum camphora that witnessed and survived the dropping of the atomic bomb.
Historic Landscapes: In the 16th century garden designers such as William Kent and Capability Brown sought to create symbolic landscapes with a more natural feel. This resulted in many of our historic landscapes and mature tree plantings that we consider ‘natural’ today.
Trees have long been a symbol of status, wealth and prosperity – it was the fashion for the Edwardians and Victorians to collect trees from the ‘new world’ and show them off in their gardens.
Urban trees can connect us to our heritage: In the 17th century John Loudon and his wife Jane are credited with introducing street trees to our cities. He was also the first person to use the term arboretum. Birmingham Botanical gardens and Derby Arboretum were two of his early designs.
Many of the mature trees in our streets and parks were planted by the Victorians and are a multi-generational legacy that we have inherited from these pioneers.
Aesthetic benefits: Trees can also be used to set off buildings.
Urban Trees: Trees contribute to urban biodiversity.
They can soften views and vistas by screening walls and buildings.
Trees can muffle traffic noise.
They also absorb dust, reduce wind speeds and shield from glare.
Neighbourhoods
Urban trees elevate house prices: The positive impact of trees can be reflected in the value of properties in tree lined streets, which can be 5-18% higher than those in streets without trees.
Trees create attractive environments for business investment and development, creating spaces we all want to visit.
The more trees and landscaping there is in a business district, the more businesses are attracted to move there.
One study showed landscaping improvements in Tameside and Cheshire yielded respectively over 16% and 13% of net growth in employment.
People stay longer and shop more in shopping areas that have trees
Trees improve safety: Trees reduce the speed of traffic – we drive more slowly in tree lined streets – increasing safety.
Trees reduce violence – neighbourhoods with trees and green landscapes have fewer incidences of violence.
Housing and flats associated with trees have fewer crimes and people feel safer – a further contribution to safety.
Trees and landscaping also help reduce the levels of fear.
Economic benefits: Trees can support the local economy, because people prefer, stay longer and more frequently visit shopping areas with trees in them.
Energy use can be up to 10-15% lower in buildings sheltered by trees.
Employment sites with access to green space can have more productive employees who have greater job satisfaction.
Trees provide employment through all aspects of the forestry and arboriculture industries.
Trees and development: Trees increase the value of a development.
They improve the quality of our lives and give us a sense of place – they mark the passing of the seasons with changes in their leaf colour and floral displays.
The benefits of trees are also reflected in increasing property values, attracting business, providing economic benefits, and improving safety should be taken into account when considering retaining existing trees and planting new trees for new developments, but trees have more to offer:
A study based in Northwest England also showed that a view of a natural landscape added up to 18% to a property’s value, and that homebuyers would be willing to pay £7,680 per household for views of broadleaved trees.
By intercepting rainfall, trees reduce the risk of flooding and reduce the strain on the drainage system – reducing disturbance and damage after heavy rain.
Mature trees regulate water flow and can improve water quality.
They stabilise the soil.
In the summer, trees provide shade for buildings, roads and play areas.
They reflect sunlight, provide shade and have a cooling effect by evaporating water during transpiration, all of which helps to reduce the ‘heat island effect’.
Strategic placement of trees in urban areas can cool the air by 2-8° C.
Trees properly placed around buildings can also reduce air conditioning needs by 30%.
In the winter, trees can help to insulate buildings, deflect wind and maintain local temperatures this can save energy used for heating by 20-50%.
Street Trees: Street trees provide shade which also cools streets and urban spaces thereby mitigating the urban heat island effect.
Tree-lined streets can raise property values by up to 18%.
Fewer anti-depressants are prescribed to people who live in tree-lined streets.
It is estimated that UK street trees reduce the amount of anti-depressants prescribed to the value of £16.3 million.
The leaves of roadside trees are so good at absorbing pollution that they have been shown to halve pollution levels inside the home.
Community Benefits of trees: Trees provide us with a sense of place.
They provide a community focal point; they are landmarks and encourage civic pride.
Trees provide continuity and history in the landscape.
A sense of wellbeing and place is provided by trees.
Trees provide amenity value and beauty for families and communities.
Trees help us learn: Trees can be our teachers and our playmates.
Students perform better in premises where plants and trees are present.
Green classrooms are shown to provide high educational value.
Trees can provide shade to play areas protecting children from UV-B rays.
Climbing on trees or logs promotes active play and risk-taking activities.
Forest Schools promote self-esteem, creativity, confidence and independence through sessions that build on the needs and development of our children. They enable supported risk-taking, child-centred learning, exploration and play.
Trees bring us together: Communal and social events – blossom trails, wassailing.
Tree planting events provide an opportunity for community involvement and empowerment.
Tree planting also creates a multi-generational legacy.
In Sheffield the act of protecting trees provided an opportunity for community engagement and empowerment.
Health and Wellbeing
Trees create a healthy environment: The air that we breathe is produced by trees – they create the oxygen that supports our life.
Air quality is improved by trees, as they absorb nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone.
Large urban trees are excellent filters for urban pollutants and fine particulates.
Studies in the US suggest that trees prevent $7 billion in health costs every year by filtering air pollution. (Arb Assoc website).
Trees help us relax: Humans automatically breathe more deeply when they are in the presence of trees – they illicit the relaxation response in our bodies, we instinctively breath more slowly. Our heartbeats more slowly, our blood pressure becomes lower and our brain waves alter.
Forest bathing – Shirin-yoku – reduces stress, anger, and feelings of depression.
A positive emotional response is evoked by the scents and aromas that trees create, such as the smell of pine trees.
Urban trees promote health and wellbeing: People exercise more and feel better around trees. (Woodland Trust)
Access to nature alleviates stress, stabilises blood pressure and eases anxiety and depression. (Woodland Trust)
Trees emit invisible chemicals called phytoncides that reduce stress hormones like cortisol, lower blood pressure and improve immunity (Leaf of Life)
Green space also provides opportunity for healthy, active lifestyles. (Woodland Trust)
Trees help us heal: Humans automatically breathe more deeply when they are in the presence of trees – they illicit the relaxation response in our bodies, we instinctively breath more slowly. Our heart beats more slowly, our blood pressure becomes lower and our brain waves alter.
Spending time near trees improves physical and mental health by increasing energy levels and recovery speeds, while reducing blood pressure and stress.
Hospital wards with views of trees experience faster rates of recovery in their patients and with fewer complications.
Trees emit invisible chemicals called phytoncides that reduce stress hormones like cortisol, lower blood pressure and improve immunity. (Leaf of Life)
Exposure to trees and nature aids concentration by reducing mental fatigue.
Children with ADHD show fewer symptoms when they have access to nature.
By intercepting airborne pollutants, trees help reduce levels of asthma.
The Office for National Statistics had conducted a study which showed that “the removal of pollution by trees, plants and grass saved 27,000 life years and the NHS around £1billion in medical costs” in 2020 alone.
Trees provide shade – they provide protection from harmful ultra-violet radiation, helping to reduce the occurrence of skin cancer.
Through shading, the reduced exposure to UV-B also helps protect children on school campuses and playgrounds.
There is a correlation between the number of street trees in an area and the number of anti-depressants prescribed to the residents of that area.
The more street trees there are in an area the fewer anti-depressants are prescribed.
Biophilic design is a concept in the construction industry that is used to increase occupant connectivity with the natural environment. It aims to promote psycho-social benefits such as reduced stress, improved cognitive function and creativity, while also improving well-being and expediting healing.
Green Social Prescribing: Green social prescribing uses an holistic approach to health and includes a multi-agency community based approach that should lead to fewer clinical interventions in the long-run – the natural health service. This includes a range of outdoor activities including crafts and practical outdoor work, as well as nature connectedness exercises. The most important thing is that the activities are done outdoors and can include:
Forest bathing – Shirin-yoku – reduces stress, anger, and feelings of depression.
It is a particular method for connecting with nature, which was developed in Japan, and is like mindfulness but with the visual and active input of connectedness.
Forest bathing can help regulate blood pressure and cardiovascular activity.
People exercise more and feel better when they are around trees. (Woodland Trust)
The University of Derby has identified 5 pathways to connectedness: activating senses, noticing beauty, eliciting emotion, finding meaning and feeling empathy.
Nature connectedness can help make your life up to four times more meaningful.
Trees and the economy
The world’s forests contribute £1.1tn to the global economy. (BGCI)
Trees contribute to our economy in many ways: Heat – wood is used for cooking and heating.
Power – wood is used to build windmills and waterwheels.
Transport – through wooden wheels and carriages, wooden ships (wooden galleons were known as the wooden walls of England), canoes.
Architecture – often inspired by trees for design and proportions that promote stability e.g. Smeaton’s Tower on Plymouth Hoe was based on the dimensions of an oak tree to provide the best stability and withstand the extremes of weather.
Timber is the most valuable commodity from our forests with the total value of global exports of timber products worth US$270 billion in 2018. It also provides 450 million jobs with an income of US$580bn. (BGCI)
One of the best ways to sequester carbon over long periods of time and sometimes even for centuries is by using wood in buildings, furniture, musical instruments and tools.
Buildings – oak, pine, Douglas fir, Western Red Cedar.
The use of wood in construction aids the economy and helps the progress towards carbon neutrality.
Musical instruments – Rosewood – guitar frets, Mpingo – woodwind instruments, Pau Brasil – violin bows, Honduran Rosewood – xylophones.
Tools – Hickory axe handles, elm, ash.
Implements – spoons, spatulas, rolling pins, plates, bowls.
Fencing and hurdles – Sweet chestnut, hazel
Basketry with willow.
Trees and food
Non-timber products such as fruits, nuts and medicines contribute $88bn to global trade. (BGCI)
Our daily beverage comes from trees – coffee Coffea arabica and tea Camellia sinensis.
Cider, Perry, Gin, Sloe gin, Beech-leaf gin and elder flower cordial all have ingredients that originate from trees.
Whiskey is matured in oak casks.
The Cork oak Quercus subra also provides us with cork to seal our bottles.
‘Of fruit available for consumption – 53% comes from trees’ (BGCI) – this includes; Apples Malus domestica, Pears Pyrus domestica, Sweet Cherries Prunus avium, Sour Cherries Prunus cerasus Plums Prunus domestica, Damsons Prunus domestica subsp. insititia, Greengage Prunus domestica ‘Green Gage’, Quince Cydonia oblonga.
Peaches Prunus persica, Oranges Citrus x sinensis, Lemons Citrus limon, Persimmon Diospyros kaki.
Avocados Persea americana, Papaya Carica papaya, Mango Mangifera indica, Coconuts Cocos nucifera, Baobab fruit Adonsonia digitata.
We also get nuts from trees, including Walnuts Juglans regia, Almonds Prunus dulcis, Hazel Corylus avellana, Brazil nuts Bertholletia excelsa, Pistachios Pistacia vera, Pecans Carya illinoinensis and Chestnuts Castanea sativa.
Seeds – Pine nuts are the seeds of a variety of pine trees. In Asia, two species are widely harvested: Korean Pine Pinus koraiensis and the Chilgoza pine Pinus gerardiana. In Europe, pine nuts are mostly harvested from the Stone pine Pinus pinea.
Uses in cooking: Cinnamon is the inner bark of Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon), or C. cassia (Chinese cinnamon)
We use the leaves of the Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis to flavour our soups and stews.
The berries from the Juniper Juniperus communis are used to flavour Gin.
We also get oils for cooking from Olive Olea europaea, Almond Prunus dulcis, Walnut Juglans regia and Hazel/Cob nuts Corylus avellana.
Acorns can also be used to make flour.
We also get sweeteners from trees: Maple syrup comes from the Sugar maple Acer saccharum.
Birch sap or Birch water is tapped from the White birch Betula pubescens and the Silver birch Betula pendula.
Some of our medicines come from trees: Trees provide chemicals and compounds that are used in medicine e.g.
1. Yew trees produce Taxol which is used in the treatment of cancer.
2. Pain relief through Aspirin is derived from the bark of the willow tree as salicin.
3.Pine resin has antibacterial properties and can be used to heal our wounds.
Resins: Pine resin – has many properties and is used for its antibacterial properties, as pitch pine glue and as fuel for lamps.
Mastic tree Pistacia lenticus – world’s first chewing gum, and constituent part of Holy oil and a protective layer for film negatives.
The Lansan tree Protium attenuatum produces a fragrant resin used in churches.
The Dipterocarpacae produce resins known as dammars, which are used in many products, including boat varnish, medicine and incense.
Agarwood produces a highly valuable resin that is used to develop oil as well as finished products such as perfumes, incense and medicines. A litre of Agarwood oil can be sold for over $US10,000.
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