Trees attract people

Tree planting is the process of transplanting tree seedlings, which is usually done for forestry, land reclamation, or landscaping purposes. It is different from the transplantation of larger trees that is observed in arboriculture. It is also different from the lower cost but more affordable method of distribution of tree seeds which comes with the unreliability factor. Then the question arises: what is community tree planting? The process of tree plantation, also known as afforestation, is not easily executable. Community tree planting is an initiative taken by various communities working for the improvement and upliftment of environmental standards. People who are associated with the community or who willingly want to volunteer come together to facilitate the process of tree planting.

A rather rhetorical question would be, “Why is tree plantation or afforestation important?” Trees are an essential part of our ecosystem. They have the ability to reduce the amount of harmful pollutants present in our air, especially carbon dioxide, through the function of photosynthesis. Trees reduce the temperatures of land which directly bring about a reduction in the constant global warming. The indirect advantage of cooling temperatures is the reduced reliance on conventional air conditioning methods, which therefore reduces the air pollution that is caused by their use. Trees also ensure that the underground water level is maintained and that the underground water reserve is divided in a balanced way. They help negate natural disasters like floods or droughts. Therefore, the relevance and importance of trees in our ecosystem and society is unquestionable however unfortunately often overshadowed.

Tree plantation or afforestation activities have risen out of conscious efforts to fight the grave concerns of alarming climate crises, increasing pollution, and the heightened risks of getting hit by natural disasters more regularly. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that it has been deemed that tree plantation or afforestation would prove to be an effective and efficient first line of defense against the problems that have brought upon concern across the whole globe.

However, it is important to understand that these problems wouldn’t have occurred in the first place had the growing evolution of humankind, the rampant industrialization, modernization and urbanization not led to the ruthless clearance of forests for residential, industrial and commercial reasons. Our planet has lost a lot of its green cover due to the conscious, rather irresponsible, and highly selfish activities of humans, which cannot be reversed easily.

Therefore, tree plantation, which is widely recognised as “afforestation,” may not even be the appropriate terminology because all the trees that we are planting today are being planted to make up for the lost forest cover. In such a case, “reforestation” would be a more fitting term. Reforestation is the reclamation of forests that were destroyed due to natural, human, or human-invoked causes.

Community tree planting is an effort that has been developed by various environmentally cautious communities who understood the challenges that come with reforestation, like the need for systematic planning of the tree plantation process, the need for efficient and collective work to fasten the process of increasing green cover, and the need to fetch support and permission from governmental bodies to carry out the work. As the solution, the practice of community tree planting emerged.

However, community tree planting can also be understood as the practice of tree plantation carried out in communal spaces that are largely used by a large number of people on a regular basis, therefore extending the benefits of trees to more people and attracting them to contribute in the process of afforestation.

Certain benefits that come along with community tree planting are that they would ensure that the processes of rural reforestation and urban reforestation can be efficiently executed. Planting trees in communal spaces provides opportunities for people to get involved with the community and feel more connected to the land. Trees are naturally aesthetically pleasing and attractive. Therefore, trees beautify spaces and attract more people to a place because their presence increases the utility of that place. Trees can also screen unwanted views. The presence of trees on streets and in cities will ensure that the temperatures drop by a few degrees. Most importantly, trees have environmental and health benefits for society at large.

Community tree planting is a good way to attract people back towards nature and cater to the environment while feeling a strong connection with it.