national tree week

3 trillion trees exist today - give or take a few - and it's hard to overstate the importance of them and their debut more than 300 million years ago

 was a turning point in Earths' biological history, helping to transform the surface of the planet to enable the proliferation of new species of plants and animals, the building blocks that led to the rise of mankind.

Yet despite our deep-rooted reliance on trees, we tend to take them for granted. Millions of acres of forested areas are cleared every year, often for short-term financial gains despite long-term risks like soil degradation, desertification, wildlife declines and climate change including flooding. Earth has 46% less tree cover now than it did 8-12,000 years ago when agriculture was in its infancy (but set to change the face of the planet). Although science is helping us to use tree resources more sustainably and to protect vulnerable forests more effectively, we still have a long way to go.

Trees hold deep symbolism in many religions, and cultures around the world have long appreciated what time spent with trees can do. We still periodically pause to honor them with awareness days and International weeks of recognition in the hope that their importance to our future wellbeing will instil a new generation with the fervour to save them.

Some communities, perhaps that new generation, are bucking the trend, replanting trees and reaping the benefits that they bring. Click the link for more info:- goo.gl/wsPzMN