Deforestation and the Importance of Trees

Alexandra W.

Tonia P.

ENGL 2130

February 2, 2020

There are few things more important than the ground we walk on. From the ground comes all that is necessary for survival and to the ground we will return. If that is the case, why do we injure it so? We have destroyed so much of what nature has gifted to us just to benefit ourselves. However, our planet will not be so easily defeated. In spite of the harm humankind has caused, nature still finds a way to bounce back from the grief and destruction. By planting and preserving trees we can restore nature and make it even better than it was before.

Throughout my life I have been close with nature. Nature surrounds me at all times, so it is difficult not to be close with it. My environment shapes almost every aspect of my life. When it is sunny outside I feel happy and when it begins to rain, my mood turns solemn. However, it is not just the temporary changes in weather that affect me. Sometimes permanent damage to nature fills me with rage and hopelessness. I have always been surrounded by trees and grass everywhere I looked but as I get older they have begun to fade away. Fields full of green have turned to brown holes surrounded by dump trucks. Forests and woods have been replaced by roads. I wish my town looked the way it used to. I want so badly to replace the trees that have been removed to suit our ever-growing population. Watching the color fade from my world as I age makes me appreciate all the times I have spent in nature.

When I was younger, my grandparents had a tree in their front yard. They put a swing on it that my sisters and I would always play on. Every year we took pictures by that tree on Easter. I enjoyed looking for caterpillars and lizards that would climb the trunk of the tree. Then one year my grandparents had the tree cut down. To this day I still do not know why they cut it down. Maybe it was rotted, or they possibly just did not want it there anymore. Whatever the reason was, I was quite upset to see that the tree was gone. I realized I would no longer be able to swing or look for bugs and other animals. Getting rid of one tree might not make a big difference, but when we cut down trees on a global scale so much is affected by it. Deforestation creates a butterfly effect that negatively impacts every living thing on earth. Without trees, we would have nothing.

Trees are one the most important organisms on our planet. They are essential to all aspects of life. Trees release oxygen that land-dwelling creatures, and even some sea animals, need. Their roots hold soil in place which prevents erosion and desertification. Trees act as habitats for a large percentage of life. The list goes on and on. We need trees and other plants for so many reasons which is why they are quickly vanishing. As our population grows ever larger, we require more and more wood, food, and land. Humankind has grown so much in such a short amount of time that we are using our resources faster than they are able to replenish. Further action must be taken to ensure that humankind as well as other species will have enough plants to survive for years to come.

There are several ways that we can help nature and aid in the regrowth of trees. Planting trees in areas where plants have been cut down is one of most well known ways of helping the environment. Not only is it important to plant more trees, we must also protect the ones that are already grown. Pollution harms trees as well as humans and other animals. Lowering levels of pollution results in healthier plants and healthier bodies. Composting organic materials is an example of recycling that conserves landfill space while also providing nutrients to plants. These are only a few examples of ways that we can help our environment.

Nature has received a lot of damage from human hands, but it is not too late to turn our situation around. By volunteering our time and making changes in our lifestyle, we can help nature to be as great as it once was. Helping the environment now will ensure that our world will prosper for generations to come.