"Save our Trees"

 

Save our Trees

by: Genemar T. Marte

                        (fourth week)









Do you notice signs that read: Save our Trees or Plant a tree today in your neighborhood? What can you say about those signs? Maybe you would ask: Why is there a need to save trees when there are plenty of trees around us?  Or maybe you would reason: I’ve read in the encyclopedia that a third of the Earth’s land surface is covered by forest. Then, there is plenty for all of us to share.
              
                Yes, my friend. A third of the Earth’s land surface is covered by forests. That was true. But nowadays, vast areas of forests are cut down for timber or burned to clear land for farming or housing projects. And the trees that are felled or burned are not as few as ten or twenty but hundreds and thousands of trees every year!
             
               Trees are being cut in large numbers. Our mountains are slowly but surely losing trees. This is because of the rampant illegal logging some people do. Knowing that forests and trees are fast diminishing, we must be alarmed! Trees are very important. Why...because trees produce large amount of oxygen. When we breathe in, we take in oxygen. When we breathe out, we release carbon dioxide. Trees do the opposite. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thus cleansing the air of the poisonous gases. Trees regulate temperature and rainfall, trees act as a natural air conditioner by shading the Earth from the direct heat of the sun.
              
              Another thing is trees provide us with important products. In school, the pencils and papers and also the chair and the tables we use all cam from trees. At home, the rubber bands your mommy use to do your ponytail and your brother’s toys came from trees, too. Trees are cut down to provide us timber or lumber for manufacturing as well as for building the houses we live in. Wood from trees is also used as fuel. Trees are also sources of medicine. The bark leaves, and seeds of certain trees is where we get ingredients for some of the medicines we use today.  We must not fail to mention the food we eat everyday, the fruits that come from those trees. And the great role of trees is they are the one who reduce flooding and preventing soil erosion by holding the water from going down so fast.
                Those are just a few of the reasons why we must save our trees today. A smart fella like you will be able to name some more. Ask yourself: What if the world’s tropical rainforests vanish within your lifetime> Think my friend. There would be no more timber and firewood to use as fuel for our homes. The forest animals would surely lose their homes and this would lead to their migration and eventual extinction. Wild plants used as food and medicines would surely vanish. Rain water that pours over the bare mountains and hills would cause soil erosion, flooding, and landslides everywhere. Scary, isn’t it?
             
               As a simple you individual like you can help. How? Let’s plant a tree even once in your lifetime by growing a plant on a pot and taking good care of them. Another is let us practice the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, We know that almost everything that we use came from trees. When we reduce the amount of products we use and buy, we also reduce the number of trees that are cut down to make these products. When we choose to reuse we are also saving trees from being cut down. When we recycle paper products, we prevent new trees from being cut down.
             
               Fortunately, there is still time. We can still save our forests and save our lives. Simple things make big difference, Agree?