Got a problem? Trees can solve it

Trees, think of them as “friends with benefits”, mankind’s greatest comrades, providing priceless value to our lives in  myriad ways.

If you’re anything like me, you hate seeing tree-felling trucks (often with no company branding) trawling the suburbs in search of their next woody “victim”. The angry growl of chainsaws has sadly become the soundtrack to our lives. And all that noisy destruction doesn’t come cheap! But the additional price we pay for losing trees, both individually and collectively, is much greater.

According to T.M. Das, of the University of Calcutta, a tree, living for 50 years, will generate $31,250 worth of oxygen, filter out $62,000 worth of air pollution, increase soil fertility to the tune of $31,250, recycle $37,500 worth of water and provide $31,250 worth of wildlife habitat.  That makes the value of each standing tree amount to $193,250! He didn’t even include the fact that shade provided by trees can cool the surrounding environment by up to 15 degrees Celsius in the summer – massively reducing air conditioning bills. Meanwhile Real Estate agents estimate that the value of homes and businesses in a tree lined street, increase by $15-$25,000.

But trees are worth much more than cold hard cash. They’re our vital allies in the fight against climate change. A mature tree can sequester nearly 10kg of CO2 during their first 20 years of growth by using carbon dioxide to build their trunks, branches and leaves. There’s also research to suggest that road rage (and even driving speed) becomes less in green urban areas and the presence of trees has been found to reduce blood pressure, domestic violence, depression, stress and ADHD. An American study even suggests that patients recover better after surgery if they have a view of trees through their hospital windows.

If residents get actively involved in community tree planting programs, it provides a measurable boost of community well-being too! Trees also help improve biodiversity by creating corridors for birds, animals and insects to travel. Older trees provide crucial wildlife nesting hollows. It can take 100 years for these to form.

One of our most spectacular, the Sydney Red Gum, was recently crowned Eucalypt of the Year for 2023. It beat 933 other Australia-wide species in this popularity contest. And what’s not to love about their salmon pink trunks, their wrinkly limbs and their lithesome grace? But even these majestic beauties are being illegally cut down on a regular basis. I can never understand why someone would want to “remove’ a tree to enhance their view. I reckon the tree is the view!

The Pittwater area, amazingly, is losing trees from private land, faster than anywhere else in NSW. This has led to the emergence of a local volunteer group called Canopy Keepers who are determined to fight back and “stop the chop”. Check out their website and get involved if you can: www.canopykeepers.org.au

Northern Beaches Council has strict rules on removal but frequently, D.A. approvals enable entire blocks to be totally denuded. A long awaited “Tree Canopy Plan”, which promises to offer more protection, continues to be delayed. The best trees of, course, are the ones that grow in intact native forests. Sadly, the incoming NSW Labor government is continuing to log what’s left of them, despite the impact on koalas.

When you hug a tree, your body releases oxytocin, known as the hormone of love, trust and fuzzy feelings. So, get out there, give it a try and let us know how you go!

*Enjoy that? Of course you did! Be sure to catch up with all of Mal’s Wild Side and Environment focused articles here