Why would we cut down trees? Trees filter the air and exhale the oxygen we breath, sequester carbon and store it in the soil, clean the soil of pollutants and excess nitrogen, reduce urban heat, bring rainfall and stabilise climates, provide shade under which we exist in comfort, lock in soil to stop erosion, provide homes for wildlife and branches for children to climb, quell storm surges, reduce flooding and stabilise river banks, improve water quality, reduce noise pollution, grow an abundance of food free of charge, increase property values, form parks and forests for our recreation and leisure, improve mental health, add heritage and cultural value to an area, provide inspiration for product creation and innovation such as solar energy, building cooling and water harvesting systems, communicate with each other through a silent language to bolster their longevity, and then replicate and reproduce without any effort required from us. So I ask again: in our infinite wisdom, and considering all of this, why would we cut down trees? We still find our reasons; and, unfortunately, we destroy more than we replace. In the absence of the Lorax, someone does need to speak for the trees. On this episode of the podcast, I found two: Boyd and Sarah from Treeforce Cairns. In 30 years, Treeforce volunteers have planted more than 200,000 trees in one city. Boyd and Sarah spoke to me about why that effort was necessary, and why the need for tree planting and reforestation is more pressing than ever.
