Today there are approximately 100,000 known species of trees that exist throughout the world, according to World Resources Institute.
Here are few online trees databases that I found on line
- http://www.arborday.org/treeguide/browsetrees.cfm
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=18110
- http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/common/a.html
- http://hort.ufl.edu/database/trees/trees_scientific.shtml
- http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/discoveries/TreeSearch
While trees were once spread virtually across all of Earth’s land masses, today they cover about 3.9 billion hectares or just over 9.6 billion acres (FAO Forest Resources Assessment 2000). The fact is, trees now cover only about 29.6 percent of Earth’s total land area.
From 1990 – 2000, about two percent of the world’s forest cover – roughly 10 million hectares – was lost and not recovered, according the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). That rate continues today.
Question.
- What can we do as society to reverse the trend ?
- What are the measures we as society need to take to reverse the trend?
- It is possible to change to public opinion about cutting trees?
- If yes How?
- What can be done on individual basis to protect the life on this planet forest included?
Trees help our soil remain healthy by reducing soil erosion and by creating a soil climate suitable for microorganism to grow.
A healthy tree can increase your property value by as much as 27 percent while trees with dead branches, hollow cavities and other problems can decrease your property value.
Evergreen trees are green year round because they do not lose all of their leaves in one season. Most will however lose some of their oldest leaves just before they produce new leaves in the spring. Some will lose part of their leaves in the fall.
A tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old.
Tree leaves are composed of many colored pigments — green chlorophyll hides them during the spring and summer growing seasons. Shorter days and cool temperatures in the fall cause the chlorophyll to break down and the other pigments to be see.
Every state has an official State Tree. We do not have a national tree, however, there is a campaign to have the oak adopted as our National Tree.
Arbor Day, a day site aside to plant and recognize the importance of trees, is not a national holiday. If fact the day observed varies from state to state.
Tree wood is a highly organized arrangement of living, dying, and dead cells.
The beginning and growth of tall woody trees in forests may have played a key role in the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Hundreds of food products (fruit, coffee, nuts, etc.) and food additives (for ice cream, chewing gum, etc.) come from trees.
One large tree can lift up to 100 gallons of water out of the ground and discharge it into the air in a day.
One large tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people.
Each year, one person uses wood and paper products equivalent to a 100 foot tree 18 inches in diameter.
Over 5,000 products are made from trees.
Trees are included in most religions. Some hold certain trees sacred; other use trees to help teach beliefs. The story goes that Buddha received his enlightment under the wisdom tree.
Each year over 600,000 people travel to Macon, Georgia to see 240,000 cherry trees in bloom. The estimated revenue is over $6.5 million dollars per year.
Age/Size
Trees are the largest living organism on earth:
– Some coastal redwoods are over 360 feet tall
– Some swamp ash trees are almost 300 feet tall
– Giant seguoia trees can weigh over 2000 tons (4 million pounds)
– It can take 10 minutes to walk around the crown of a giant banyon tree in Calcutta.
– Monkey trees can have a crown of almost 200 feet.
Trees are some of the oldest living organism on earth:
– live oaks can live to be over 500 years
– many giant sequoia trees are 2,500 years old
– some bristlecone pines are thought to be over 5000 years old.
Trees grown in city conditions often do not live as long (average 13 years less) as trees grown in their natural wooded environment.
Growth
Trees trap more of the sun’s energy than any other group of organisms on earth — they are in essence big batteries — the largest on earth. Only 0.1% of the sun’s energy is trapped by organisms — trees account for 50% of all energy trapped by organism.
Almost 98% (by weight) of a tree is made up of six elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur.
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Related articles
- Governor, elementary students propose change to state tree (ksl.com)
- How many different types of trees live in the Amazon? (earthrangers.com)
- Personal Territory Tour: Exploration #57 (kiarastewart.wordpress.com)
- Shade Tree Buying Guide (lowes.com)
- Getting to Know the Palo Verde Tree (local.answers.com)
- Arbor Day Farm to Missouri (moonrivermeanderings.wordpress.com)
- There’s Gold in Them Thar Trees (livescience.com)
- Rooting out riches: There’s gold in them thar eucalyptus trees! (nbcnews.com)
- Arbor Day Foundation grows with sense of urgency (journalstar.com)
- Treebeard? (gavin8r.wordpress.com)
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