
From 2001 to 2020, Australia lost 8.47Mha of tree cover, equivalent to a 20% decrease in tree cover since 2000 and 1.86Gt of CO₂ emissions. The 2019 – 2020 Australian bushfires burned approximately 17 million hectares of land, including significant portions of the World Heritage Listed Greater Blue Mountains area and the Gondwana Rainforests1. That’s a lot of trees up in smoke.
Chart source: Global Forest Watch – Australia
Photo courtesy: Bio-R
Urban areas are subject to the Urban Heat Island Effect. In this phenomenon, localised warming occurs due to the large amounts of paved and dark coloured surfaces absorbing and retaining the sun’s heat and acting like large heat sinks. Urban environments can be several degrees hotter than country environments, simply due to the lower proportion of green spaces with trees and vegetation2. I’m sweating already!
As the old Chinese proverb says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.” Besides cooling our urban centres, it’s general knowledge that trees provide oxygen, process carbon dioxide, provide food and shelter for wildlife, minimize erosion and maintain healthy soil3. And they look good too; who doesn’t like sitting under the shelter of a stately Gum tree or playing in a park that is lush, green and cool? Numerous studies have demonstrated that the presence of trees and urban nature can improve people’s mental and physical health, children’s attention and test scores, property values in a neighbourhood, and beyond4.
These statements point to one logical thought; planting more trees is of utmost importance and of great benefit, no matter how we look at it.
Arborgreen is passionate about planting trees, and we support our customers’ tree planting projects from beginning to end. It’s one of the reasons we’ve decided to publish an ongoing blog to:
South Australia
18 Follett Close
Mount Barker SA 5251
New South Wales
14 Rennie Street,
Wetherill Park, NSW 2164
Victoria
56-60 Woodlands Drive,
Braeside, VIC 3195
Phone 1300 760 642
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