Transcript Slide 1
Greenburgh Nature Center presents TREES: HEROES OF OUR PLANET What is a tree? - A tree must be perennial - A tree must have a self-supporting trunk - A tree trunk must be made of woody material - A tree usually grows to a height of 5 to 7 meters A young tree that has not yet reached adult height is called a sapling. Did you know? – Trees are the largest of all plants. – The tallest trees grow higher than 30story buildings. – Many trees also live longer than other plants. Some live for hundreds or even thousands of years. They are amongst the oldest known living things. In temperate climates, trees add a growth ring each year. What can the growth rings tell us? This was a good year. Tree rings also tell us how much precipitation fell each year in the place where the tree lives. Scientists study the sizes of tree rings. The different sizes of the rings tell us about changes in temperature and precipitation over hundreds of years. Did You Know? Almost 1/3 of the United States is covered by forests! What would our lives be like without trees in them? Did You Know? 308,529,000 Americans In just one year, the average American consumes enough wood and paper to make up a tree 100 feet tall and 16 inches in diameter! (That’s 4 Americans 43 cubic feet of wood and 681 1 American 3 Americans pounds of paper per American per year!) 2 Americans Just a few products we get from trees. dye oxygen fireworks crayons tannin – charcoal pine oil board – pitch– shoe polish – luggage piano keys postcards – –tax forms –– sponges – shade –– particle musical instruments perchesstamps for birds of prey – –toilet paper – books – rayon bowling alley lanes – –postage – colognes animal bedding – irrigation milk –cartons flooring – bark for– landscaping fishing lurespie ––inks piping fruit filling – golf balls game boards– –cardboard suspending agent for drinking grocery bags furniture chewing – paper towels telephone books soda – pencils ––dry wall – –baby cribs gum – baseball bats – lumber – decoys – kites oil spill –atlases control agents – Christmas trees – hockey sticks cards – broom sticks – varnish and maps magazines – ice cream thickener – step ladders – birthday wildlife habitat – pong cosmetics – baby foods – vitamins price – ping balls –– roofs cider – tags ceiling tiles – crutches backyard play sets –– cider axe handle – food labels – cooking utensils – photographic paper – lacquer – pallets – rubber gloves tires – –umbrella handles –– signs walnuts candy wrappers scenery – party invitations – disinfectants – cd inserts mulch – clean golf teesties – egg cartons – nail polish ––fence posts – toys instrument panels – automobile gummed tape –water fruit –– railroad – shelter belts – puzzles swings – baking toothpaste – –eyeglass frames syrup – antacids – shampoo – rubber gloves space craft reentry shields – newspaper cups – buttons cutting boards –– benches – bird houses – stereo speakers menthol – electrical outlets – medicines electricity – plates and photographic – newspapers posters– energy garden stakes –film stairways – beds – tables barrels for – window frames bowls –helmets sausage– casings – torula yeast – rulers – wooden blocks – houses – football toilet seats – guitars notebook paper – oars––insulation plywood – paper plates – computer casings – stain road building materials remover – coffee – toothpicks – movie tickets – carpet and upholstery shatterproof glass filters – artificial vanilla flavoring backsides – imitation diapers –– stadium horse corrals cork – vacuum cleanerbacon bags –– movies seats adhesives – decorations – turpentine – camphor – waxes Did You Know? The bristlecone pine is the oldest living tree -- one specimen is 4,600 years old, found in the United States! TREES Help Fight GLOBAL WARMING PHOTOSYNTHESIS in the leaf converts global warming CARBON DIOXIDE into OXYGEN and retains the CARBON in the plant. PHOTOSYNTHESIS Produce O2 Absorb CO2 Control erosion Enrich soil with decaying leaves, etc. Give us shade & wind protection TREES Provide us with recreation Provide us with food (nuts, fruits), oils, wood, sap Make homes for wildlife Did You Know? "The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.“ —U.S. Department of Agriculture "There are about 60-to 200- million spaces along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO2 every year, and saving $4 billion in energy costs.“ —National Wildlife Federation "In one study, 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a "strong or moderate impact" on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%.“ —Arbor National Mortgage & American Forests "One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people.“ —U.S. Department of Agriculture "The planting of trees means improved water quality, resulting in less runoff and erosion. This allows more recharging of the ground water supply. Wooded areas help prevent the transport of sediment and chemicals into streams.“ —USDA Forest Service Development, Runoff and Trees "In laboratory research, visual exposure to settings with trees has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes, as indicated by changes in blood pressure and muscle tension." —Dr. Roger S. Ulrich Texas A&M University around your home can NUT increase TREESits can value be up to 15% or more. A Trees WINDBREAK The Incorporated from the into air, produce windbreaks oxygen and give can trees lower you plant remove CO2 songbirds or serve provide as shade many trees other benefits. heating bills 10-20%a home. Trees A BACKYARD ORCHARD lets you grow your own fruit FLOWERING TREES also produce food for wildlife STREET TREES shade the pavement and help cool the entire neighborhood SHADE TREES planted east and west of your home can cut cooling costs 15-35% Pillbugs Mite Even in death, a tree provides food and Slug home to many organisms and with help eventually returns to the earth as nutrients for the next generation of plants. Salamander Now that’s recycling! Milipede Centipede Ants Earthworm Trees do so much for us. They are truly Heroes of our Planet. Have you hugged a tree today.