A single mature tree can absorb up to 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide every year, release enough oxygen to support two human beings, intercept thousands of litres of rainfall, provide a home for dozens of species of birds, insects, and other creatures, lower the surrounding air temperature by several degrees through evapotranspiration, and reduce stress and improve mental health in the people who walk or sit beneath it. All of this, for free, powered by nothing but sunlight and water. Trees may be the single most extraordinary living things on Earth.
Yet we are destroying them at a rate that future generations will struggle to comprehend. Global deforestation claims approximately 15 billion trees every year — that is nearly 2 million trees every hour. The world has lost approximately 46% of its tree cover since the dawn of human civilization. In India, urban tree cover is declining rapidly as cities expand, construction booms, and road widening projects claim century-old trees. In rural areas, agricultural expansion, fuelwood collection, and infrastructure development are shrinking forests and tree cover continuously.
The consequences are far-reaching and deeply interconnected. Trees are the primary mechanism by which terrestrial ecosystems cycle water. When a tree absorbs water through its roots and releases it as vapour through its leaves, it contributes to local rainfall patterns and moisture availability. Large forests like the Amazon and the Himalayan foothills essentially generate their own weather — removing them disrupts rainfall patterns across entire continents. The declining forests of the Western Ghats are already affecting the monsoon patterns of peninsular India.
Trees are also the lungs of cities. Urban trees absorb pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter, making city air measurably cleaner and healthier. Studies have shown that urban areas with high tree cover have lower rates of respiratory disease, lower hospital admission rates during heat waves, and lower rates of stress and anxiety among residents. Trees are not an aesthetic luxury in cities — they are critical public health infrastructure.
The importance of trees in regulating temperature cannot be overstated. A shaded area under a mature tree can be 5–10°C cooler than an adjacent unshaded area on a hot summer day. In Indian cities, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, this is not a trivial difference — it can be the difference between life and death for the elderly, the very young, and outdoor workers. As climate change intensifies heat waves, urban trees will become increasingly vital.
India's relationship with trees is ancient and profound. The Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, the banyan tree sacred to Vishnu, the neem tree whose medicinal properties have been recognized for millennia, the peepal tree at the heart of every village — trees are woven into the spiritual and cultural fabric of Indian life. India also pioneered some of the world's most powerful tree protection movements, including the Chipko movement of the 1970s and the ongoing battles against destructive highway projects.
The Miyawaki method of intensive native forest planting is gaining exciting momentum in Indian cities. By planting dozens of native tree species together in a small area, Miyawaki forests grow ten times faster than conventional plantations, become self-sustaining within two to three years, and provide far richer biodiversity than monoculture plantings. Urban Miyawaki forests have been successfully created in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and dozens of other cities.
This monsoon season — and every monsoon season — let us commit not just to planting trees, but to caring for them. Planting is easy; nurturing a sapling to a mature tree takes years of watering, protection, and patience. Let us also commit to protecting the trees that already stand — especially the old, large trees that took decades to grow and provide irreplaceable benefits. Every tree that stands is a gift to the generations that come after us. Let us give generously.
Content Courtesy: Original content for Green World
