When the vast forests of white pine started to shrink, the demise of the Iowa lumber industry was swift and final. The most important use of Iowa's native woodlands in the late 1800s was for transportation. When the railroads began their major expansion throughout the state, the demand for wood for railroad ties consumed a significant portion of the state's forest resource. During this period, a white oak tie would last only 7 years, and each mile of rail would require 6 acres of woodland for the timbers and ties. We value trees for many reasons, including their beauty during the seasons, their influences on our environment and the many species of birds and animals they shelter and feed.
Trees have an effect on our air quality.
For every pound of wood produced by a tree, it also provides a pound of oxygen and uses almost 1.5 pounds of carbon dioxide. Or an acre of trees uses 5,880 pounds of carbon dioxide and gives us 4,280 pounds of oxygen each year. Trees are nature's air conditioners. A single tree can transpire 100 gallons of water from its leaves in a single day. The cooling provided by this single tree is equivalent to five average room air conditioners running 20 hours per day.