Protect ourselves and our environment by planting more trees

by Hannah Wakawa

The desire of humans to satisfy their needs and wants has resulted in them cutting down trees. From time immemorial, man has cut down trees to create firewood which is most popularly used for cooking and in some cases to keep him and his immediate environment warm.

Trees play a pivotal role in protecting the environment we live in and the act of deforestation, which is becoming a trend in our present society, is dangerous to our environment, and has a negative impact on humans and other habitants. Planting trees is therefore an important tool which can be used to save nature.

There’s no known better natural air purifier than trees which cleans the air we breathe. Trees do not just absorb carbon dioxide, they also absorb nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and even ozone which can be harmful to the human body and in turn provide humans with clear air and high level of oxygen.

Birds, butterflies, bees and other mammals find shelter on the trees. The planting of trees does not just end at providing cleaner air, but it helps sustain the life span of animals and insects. In forests, many animals, such as monkeys and orangutans live in the tree canopy. The planting of trees plays a vital role in providing a home for wildlife and sustaining biodiversity.

Trees act as buffers against floods by absorbing the water as well as the runoff of water. Trees stabilize the soil by preventing erosion and adding nutrients to the soil which in turn help farm produce yield better. By creating barriers between roads and waterways, they help in providing humans with clear water. Trees therefore play an instrumental role in preventing environmental degradation.

Let’s protect ourselves and our environment by planting more trees. For each tree cut, another should be planted. Every tree planted makes a difference, let’s create positive impact on our environment and save our planet.

Hannah Wakawa is a 21-year-old student from Nigeria with hopes of one day becoming a journalist. She hopes to serve as a voice to the voiceless and bring to the attention of the world, issues that are of concern in her homeland.