Trees are vital to all life on earth. Without them, we would not have oxygen, carbon storage, stable soils, or habitat for many animals on the planet. The following facts will help you realize just how important - and amazing - trees are and why we must conserve them if we can!

• Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and the carbon that they store in their wood helps slow the rate of global warming. (The Royal Parks Foundation)
• Research shows that within minutes of being surrounded by trees and green space, your blood pressure will drop, your heart rate will slow and your stress levels will come down. (The Royal Parks Foundation)
• Trees support the lives of many large organisms. Trees are used for food, shelter, and sites for reproduction. Many animals also use trees for resting, nesting and for places from which to hunt or capture prey. (National Wildlife Federation)
• Some 300 million people live in forests worldwide, including an estimated 60 million indigenous people whose survival depends almost entirely on native woods. (Mother Nature Network)
• Large forests can influence regional weather patterns and even create their own microclimates. The Amazon, for example, generates atmospheric conditions that not only promote regular rainfall there and in nearby farmland, but potentially as far away as the Great Plains of North America. (Mother Nature Network)
• Trees are also the planet’s heat shield. They keep the concrete and asphalt of cities and suburbs 10 or more degrees cooler and protect our skin from the sun’s harsh UV rays. (New York Times)