Every species of tree planted brings countless benefits to the planet, especially locally where developing communities live: new forests create jobs, food security, protect endangered flora and fauna, prevent rising temperatures, and protect the soil, a source of sustenance and life for humans and animals.

Purification

Trees purify water and slow the absorption of rain by filtering it through their roots. This process prevents soil erosion and reduces the risk of saturation and flooding.

Supply

About 1/3 of the world's largest cities depend for much of their drinking water needs on protected forests.

Air Oxygen production

We have always called forests the "green lungs of the planet" since they produce oxygen. It is estimated that 1 acre of trees can meet the annual oxygen needs of about 12 people.

Absorption of harmful gases

In addition to CO2, trees also absorb other harmful gases and pollutants in the air, such as sulfur dioxide, ozone, ammonia, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.

Climate mitigation

Trees cool the surrounding air through shading and transpiration, and through this process plant leaves release water droplets that
cool the surrounding area during evaporation.

Social benefits

Beneficial properties of trees

Many medicinal and phytotherapeutic products are made from extracts of the bark, leaves and flowers of countless species of trees. We find them in both medicinal and cosmetic formulas based on plant extracts and natural active ingredients.

Developing countries

Many of the poorest people on the planet live near forested areas. Food, water and materials obtained from forests account for up to 28 percent of total household income in some tropical and subtropical regions.

Mental well-being

Trees and contact with nature are known and proven to improve mental well-being and cognitive levels in both healthy individuals and those with psychological disorders.

Fauna

Habitat

Forests are home to about 80 percent of total terrestrial biodiversity, from small invertebrates to large mammals.

Insects

Plants are also home to large populations of insects; some trees such as birches and willows are home to more than 300 different species.

Prevention of extinction Up to 100 species of animals face extinction every day due to deforestation of closed canopy tropical rainforests.

Climate

Carbon capture

Natural forests absorb CO2, acting as a carbon sink. Each year, trees and forests absorb the equivalent of 2 billion tons of CO2, about 1/3 of all the CO released by the use of fossil fuels that generate harmful volatile emissions.

Carbon storage

Deforestation promotes climate change by causing the release of CO2 stores. About 18% of global emissions are due to deforestation (5-10
gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent), a much larger percentage than that generated by the global transportation sector.

Soil

Trees protect the
soil from erosion. The canopy of trees also provides protection and moisture to the soil below.

Recycling of nutrients

Tree debris (often in the form of fallen leaves) allows nutrients to be recycled between trees and soil in a viable circular ecosystem.

Soil structure

Tree roots compact the topsoil and increase the porosity of the subsoil. In addition, the constant source of carbon from perennial plants helps soil microorganisms bind soil particles, strengthening their structure.

Trees absorb CO2 from the air and convert it into oxygen and plant material through photosynthesis. This process involves plant cells converting
carbon from solid carbon dioxide into sugars (the carbohydrates glucose and starch) that is stored within leaves, stems, trunks, branches and roots to contribute to tree growth.

Oxygen is released into the atmosphere as a by-product of photosynthesis, on which animal survival depends.

Trees have evolved over millions of years to perfect this process of photosynthesis. It is easy to plant trees on a large scale and increase the total amount of CO2 we can absorb.

In 2019, a report
Crowther Lab science concluded how planting trees is probably the most effective way to combat climate change.

The Paris Agreement (COP21) recognizes that CO2 absorption is necessary to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5ºC compared to pre-industrial levels, a task that emissions reductions alone could not achieve.

Carbon sequestration alone (planting new trees) would not be enough to combat climate change. But in the race against irreversible and irreparable damage, planting trees can help slow the climate change process, giving us more time to complete our transition to a sustainable society.

On average, a tree is counted to offset 200 kg of CO2 over its lifetime, or about 10 kg per year for 20 years.

However, the CO2 captured by a tree varies greatly depending on the species, but also depending on the soil and climatic conditions where the tree is planted.

Some areas, such as the tropics, are ideal for storing higher values of CO2 and faster. Fast-growing species are also the ideal plants to influence the rate of CO2 capture.

The Tree Nation project includes more than 300 species that can absorb from a few kilograms of CO2 to more than a ton during their lifetime. Although a tree captures carbon during most of its life, its initial growth period
will record the highest rate of absorption.

To follow globally established standards, we consider only the first 20 years of a tree's life, effectively limiting its total CO2 offset value.

Procosmet has chosen tree species to give away that have good Co2 absorption capacity, to accelerate and enhance the
environmental contribution.

Tropical areas (between the two tropics) are statistically best suited to combat climate change and deforestation. In these large areas, trees receive more sunlight and the environmental conditions are perfect for their growth.

As a result, they are able to absorb more CO2 and faster. In addition, rainforests in these areas are home to about 85 percent of all terrestrial species and are the areas most prone to deforestation, which threatens many endangered species.
extinction.

Even in regions with climates
arid or desert (which are not ideal for absorbing CO2), however,
planting trees contributes to avoid malnutrition e famines. Tree species with deep roots help fight desertification.

In Europe or the United States, there is no imminent threat of deforestation; in fact, trees are increasing year by year.

Here, trees grow at a slower rate, making these regions less urgent in the fight against climate change. However, other threats loom, such as the insect slaughter.

https://kb.tree-nation.com/it/knowledge/where-are-trees-most-needed

Currently, there are laws protecting forests in more developed countries, so the deforestation problem has shifted to the tropics. Here, the political infrastructure is often too weak to provide adequate control over their forests. 

Eighty-five percent of our terrestrial biodiversity lives in the tropics and is therefore threatened by deforestation, with many species facing extinction. 

People living in the tropical zone have lower incomes, implying that they do not have the political or financial resources to deal with the deforestation problem on their own; moreover, planting trees in these areas will mean securing better sources of income, thus addressing both a social and an environmental problem.