Trees and the Air We Breathe
- In one year, an acre of trees can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven up to 8700 miles!
- Trees provide shade and shelter, reducing yearly heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars!
- Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
- Trees cut down noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.
- Tree roots stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
- Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds.
Tree Longevity and Carbon Storage
- A tree reaches peak carbon storage after about 10 years.
- The death of a 70-year-old tree releases over three tons of carbon back into the atmosphere.
- Trees are among the longest-living organisms on Earth, with some, like "Methuselah" in California, living over 4,768 years.