What Are The Environmental Benefits Of Trees? We look at why Trees are important for Biodiversity and how woods are good for our health and wellbeing.
Why are trees important for biodiversity?
In a very broad sense, biodiversity is a term used to describe life on earth with its variety.
In each patch of grassland, woodland and other habitats, there are many organisms. These organisms are both large and microscopically small and interact with the environment more than you could know.
The greater the number and range for these plants, microbes, animal species and fungi (or the more biodiverse the area is), the healthier you can consider the ecosystem. This is because a more complex and robust habitat can supply different conditions to suit many needs for a wide variety of species.
Safeguard against disaster
Ensuring you have plenty of species present in an ecosystem can also reduce the chance of diseases, pests, natural disasters and other threats from making any drastic impact on the habitat or local area.
As an example for safeguarding against a disaster, we are currently predicted to lose around 80% of the ash trees within the UK. This will have a devastating impact on the species that rely on the trees and the landscape around the areas.
To help reduce the impact this has, replacing these trees with ones that do not react to this disease will be best for the ecosystem and replace the role ash has.
Providings for people
You may not know this, but biodiversity is critical in our lives.
All species and the ecosystem that they are surrounded in are essential for all aspects of human life.
We are dependant on the natural services their ecosystem provides for us, including the air that we breathe and the food we eat. If the ecosystems were disrupted, this could present problems for humans significantly if not corrected soon.
The society that we live in now and the agriculture system we have relies on soil organisms, pollinators, the natural predators for crop pests, and many more.
The woodlands and trees provide clean air for other animals and us to breathe, provide a degree of protection from floodings and store carbon.
This will be crucial if we want to prevent a devastating climate breakdown. In Great Britain alone, the value for trees alone with providing flood protection is estimated at £6.5 Billion.
Biodiversity is not just good for us to stay physically well but also mentally healthy; there are evidence to support the fact that green spaces are good for our mental and physical well being.
Why woods are good for our health and wellbeing
There are many out there that can feel woodlands are great for your wellbeing. There has also been an increasing amount of evidence to support that they can be great and have been brought into sharper focus due to the coronavirus.
This can paint a picture showing how trees, woods and the natural environment, in general, is providing health benefits to those in need.
There is a range of health programs being put out there to help get people to access woodlands and other areas to increase their health while researching the health benefits it provides others.
Being with nature has been known to alleviate stress, treat anxiety, depression and stabilise blood pressure.
The woodlands have been known to have other benefits, such as assisting with recovery from surgery and more. It has been found that 1 in 4 people will be affected with mental illness at some point during their lifetime.
The statistics also show that these mental health issues are longer-lasting, more impactful and more common than other health conditions. Getting to spend some time in nature is a great way to support mental health as it can decrease your stress and boost your mood.
The lack of exercise is a well-known problem within the UK healthcare system. One-quarter of adults in the UK are obese, and the physical inactivity of children and adults are predicted to cost the NHS up to £10bn a year by 2050 if not helped.
Exercise can provide a better workout while increasing your vitamin D intake and providing a much more pleasant setting than your average gym setting.
Environmental Benefits of Planting Trees
This article shows the environmental benefits of trees and how they benefit the health of people in the area. If you are looking for tree surgery in Northampton, Milton Keynes and Bedford contact our specialists today.
