The word tree denotes plants, a family mapped through various generations, as well as scientific notations like binary trees. So anything that has a root, strong trunk or stem, and branches out can be termed as a tree. In fact, a few centuries ago people placed in the entrance way a “tree” for visitors to hang hats and coats on.

In nature trees are big plants that grow tall, flower, and fruit. Trees are all around us—furniture, paper, food, houses, and toys. We use things made from trees, enjoy shaded avenues, revel in the forests, and cut trees out of avarice—urbanization. Trees are what sustain life and play an important role in the ecosystem. They enrich the soil, prevent erosion, and are home to birds, insects, small animals, and fungi.

Trees are valuable to mankind. They provide fruits and are sources of energy or fuel, medicines, detergents, as well as cosmetics. In fact, fossil fuels are produced by the death of trees.

That trees have always been a part of our lives is seen from holy books and scriptures which praise the existence of trees—the Bible and Koran both mention the date palms and describe its beauty, utility, and uses. In fact, just recently a date seed that is 2,000 years old, found in the excavations of Masada, has germinated. Even in Eastern cultures, the tree played an important role and was worshipped. Art documents that very often the Buddha as the Master was represented by a tree (bodhi) enclosed within a railing—such depictions are found in Buddhist sites that date as far back as the 2nd century BCE.

Trees have a definite role to play in the ecosystem. Ecosystems are maintained in balance by trees. When the land is verdant with trees that are flourishing and healthy, other aspects of our environment like soil, water, and air, also remain healthy. Trees improve air quality by replenishing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. They replace nutrients in the soil that support growth—minerals as well as nitrogen, and conserve water.

Trees also bring down the temperature in summer months and ensure adequate rainfall. During winter months they protect humans by breaking the force of cold winds. Trees prevent landslides and can protect the land from the disastrous effects of hurricanes and tidal waves. They protect humans from respiratory problems by acting as air filters, as the trees trap dust particles and absorb gaseous pollutants. They reduce greenhouse gases through photosynthesis. Trees shade life from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays from the sun, which are becoming more intense with the thinning of the ozone layer. Urban noise is muffled by tree cover, as tree leaves diffuse sound waves.

Studies have shown that adequate tree cover in urban areas can help save energy costs by fifty percent in summer and twenty per cent in winter. Trees are our friends, and need to be protected from annihilation and destruction.