Trees give off oxygen and supply our atmosphere with oxygen that we need to breathe. This is especially true for rain forests which contain very little land area, but more than half of the growing wood on the planet. Rain forests act as an oxygen pump for the planet. Trees stabilize soil so that erosion doesn t carry off valuable topsoil and deposit it in ditches or streams. Trees are also valuable in riparian areas along streams and rivers to prevent the banks from breaking way and depositing sediment into the streams.
Trees provide habitat for birds and some animals and food for both animals and humans.
Trees are used in building and in many products and are an integral part of our economy. Their value as beautiful natural landscape features is obvious. As habitat, trees are also essential to an urban environment. Without trees, there would be few birds, chipmunks, squirrels, and all of nature s creatures that depend on trees for home and protection. During droughts, trees are essential to preventing damage to lawns and topsoil that could be turned to dust and scattered in the blowing wind.