Plant a Tree

As any environmentalist will tell you, the roots of trees help stem soil erosion, the shade cast by the canopy allows the ground to retain more moisture and can provide a haven for forest ground cover. Water can be brought back into dried-out streams, and both water and shade encourage forest fauna to return.

In addition, trees absorb and recycle the carbon dioxide exhaled by us, the animals and our industries.

In Israel reforestation is taken so seriously that over one billion trees have been planted since 1900, allowing Israel to now develop a thriving ecotourism industry. There are many other examples of reforestatation projects, but all share a common goal of reversing the effects of salination, erosion and loss of natural habitats.

Now you may ask the point of this post, and I'll tell you. Most of the reforestation success stories happen in the developed world, however it is in less developed countries that the problem is most in need of correction.

A quick google will list dozens of well-meaning organisations raising funds to plant trees from Costa Rica to Vietnam, and this is admirable, but I can't help thinking this just isn't enough.

The solution however is not really about raising funds to plant trees, although this is important. The real solution will come when we advance our technology so that people in less developed regions no longer need to fell trees for firewood or as additional land for crops and livestock.

Similarly it seems encumbent upon us to find renewable replacements for timber building materials and paper products.

The kind of scientific research needed is of course already happening, but I fear will be placed on the backburner if shareholder return isn't assured. It is possible that a political solution may be needed. Failing this, it is time for us, being globally aware citizens, to make more noise. Corporations and governments tend to work hand in hand, they like the status quo, and it is very rare for them to change their attitudes.

Deforestation of our beautiful planet is something we should be very ashamed of, and we need to reverse this now. Please, for the sake our children, for our own sakes as well, plant a tree, it could be a fruit tree in your backyard, or maybe a pine tree on the edge of the greenbelt, or maybe you just want to donate to a tree fund. Humanity's proudest moment may very well be the day we take responsibility for our actions and fix what we've broken.