8 Reasons Why You Should Plant a Tree For Earth Day

All around the world, people are gearing up for Earth Day. Started in 1970, this designated day of April 22 has become an annual reminder of our responsibility to be good stewards of the Earth. You can contribute to a healthier Earth in multiple ways: plant a garden, pick up trash, purchase biodegradable products, and commit to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Tree of Life

Planting trees is one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to positively affect the environment. We need trees now more than ever! Communities across the state have been devastated with the loss of tens of millions of ash trees since the emerald ash borer was first discovered in metro Detroit in 2002. Trees are our lifeline to cleaner air and a healthier environment.

Here’s how trees make a difference:

  1. Trees improve air quality by producing oxygen. They also store carbon, offsetting harmful byproducts of fossil-fuel burning.
  2. They moderate the effects of sun and wind, and they clean the air by trapping dust, pollen and other pollutants.
  3. Planted in the right places around buildings, trees can significantly reduce air-conditioning costs. This means less Freon, an inflammable and odorless chemical emitted from air conditioners. It is considered to have damaging effects to the ozone layer.
  4. Trees increase property value.
  5. Trees generate jobs and contribute raw materials for buildings, newspapers, books, etc. They are renewable, biodegradable and recyclable.
  6. They provide shelter and food for wildlife such as birds, squirrels and bugs.
  7. Trees make people feel good. Workers are more productive when they see trees along their commute routes and from their office windows.
  8. Landscapes that include trees help relax us, lower heart rates and reduce stress.

Volunteer to Help

The city of Detroit has been especially hard-hit with tree loss, stemming back to the days when Dutch elm disease ravaged whole city blocks. Efforts are underway to reforest neighborhoods throughout the city with a variety of new trees. You can jump on board and volunteer for upcoming tree plantings through Greening of Detroit, a nonprofit organization committed to guiding and inspiring the reforestation of Detroit.

“The Greening of Detroit works to grow a ‘greener’ Detroit through planting and educational programs and environmental leadership. This is a landmark year for us as we set out to plant 7,000 trees through the city with the help 10,000 volunteers,” said Rebecca Salminen Witt, president of The Greening of Detroit.  “The Greening’s plantings have been specifically designed to address stormwater runoff, soil contamination, air quality and deforestation due to the emerald ash borer.”

What are you planning to do for Earth Day? How are you making the Earth a healthier place to live, work and play?

Photo by Alex Indigo

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  1. I am going to continue communicating healthy options for safer homes. Next week, I am holding webinars where participants play Toxic Hold ‘Em and find out how toxic their homes might be. I provide resources for action along with safer choices. I will also be planting trees in connection with the Greenbelt Movement’s “I Am a Hummingbird” project. If someone is interested in the webinar, email me at [email protected] and then I’ll send back the webinar info and link.

  2. This is one of basic concern as an individual to help contribute my quota in saving our plant.
    I have started advocating about growing of trees in my small way by talking to people about it and offering them some seedlings to grow in their homes.
    #plant a tree to save the planet

  3. We need to get global leaders on board with replanting the earth before temperatures will not allow it.

  4. Good effort. First we need to plant trees in the hearts of the people and try to change the perception towards environment.

  5. The great excellent informative post you have shared on this page about the 8 reasons that should plant a tree for a earth day but if Planting trees is one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to positively affect the environment. We need trees now more than ever! Communities across the state have been devastated with the loss of tens of millions of ash trees.
    Thanks.

  6. I read something about how hospital patients with a view of greenery recover better/faster than patient with a concrete jungle view.

  7. Yes I agree we need to plant more trees! I think articles like this help encourage people so please keep up the great work! I plan to plant 10 trees next year, I have them all figured out. Apple tree is number one!

  8. Wow that’s a really great initiative, I have planted 2 trees myself over the past year, planning on doing more. Only a common effort will make difference

  9. I want to thanks you for your time for this wonderful Article!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.

  10. Thank you for explaining that when trees are planted in the right places, you can reduce your air conditioning costs. My husband and I are thinking about doing some landscaping around our home, but we hadn’t considered planting trees. It seems like we could really make a difference in the energy efficiency of our home if we plant some trees so we’ll do some research and see what would be best for us.

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