Due to the sometimes startling loss of trees and forest cover in the civilized world, more citizens have become aware of the critical ecological role that trees play in human life. In many places worldwide, people are working to manage forest cover and reverse deforestation trends.
Trees and Humans
Beginning many thousands of years ago, men removed larger and larger numbers of trees to make way for agriculture. Since the middle of the twentieth century, the decline in green cover has been hastened by the need for trees to build products and provide fuel as well as the requirement to remove trees for the homes, businesses, shopping districts, and roads that are part of community development.
Forest cover is declining at the same time that civilizations are beginning to recognize that trees play a role in improving quality of life by contributing to natural beauty and providing an arena for recreational pursuits. But more importantly, trees play a very basic role in the complex ecological system. They clean air and water, which allows animals and humans to exist. Trees are key to maintaining human life on earth.
Forests and Water Quality
As our population grows, the demand for clean drinking water becomes more acute. Forests and plant cover are necessary to slow runoff and filter rainwater. When trees are in place in the landscape, rainwater, which naturally flows downhill to the nearest stream, is slowed. Once slowed, rainwater seeps down to refill underground storage tanks or aquifers.
In addition, water may be absorbed by the roots of trees and transpired by leaves so that it can cycle back for use again as rainwater. Rain waters crops and refills drinking water supplies in reservoirs.
Forests prevent non-saline drinking-quality water from running off too quickly to mix with the salt water of oceans. Once salty, water takes much longer to re-enter the fresh water portion of the hydrological cycle, where it is most useful to humans.
Forests and Soil Quality
The roots of plants hold soil in place. Fertile soil that is needed to grow crops would otherwise be washed away in rainstorms, decreasing the amount of soil available for agriculture. Rich soil transfers nutrients to food, which contributes to human health.
The Role of Forest Managers
Professional forest managers work to insure that a balance is maintained between nurturing forests to provide wood for timber, paper, and other products and nurturing trees to improve water and soil quality. Forest managers are biologists, but in addition to their work as scientists it is necessary for them to be sensitive to the needs of forests for aesthetic and recreational enjoyment. A skillful forest manager is aware of social and political issues that impact trees, humans, lifestyles choices, and future well being.
Read more about the importance of native tree species
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