Today, trees are more vulnerable to extinction than ever before. Let’s help.
This NATIONAL THREATENED SPECIES DAY we are looking upwards, speaking for the oldest organisms on the planet — trees.
It is estimated, there are 3.04 trillion trees on Earth today — storing about 45% of carbon and housing 80% of terrestrial species. Trees help protect against flooding and landslides by absorbing water — a single mature tree can absorb 2,000 liters of water — and supplying fresh groundwater. If that weren’t enough, trees also filter the air of particulates emitted from fossil fuels.
Needless to say, trees are essential, if not vital, for our planet.
But just how many types of trees species are there? More than 73,000! From bristlecone pines to mangroves, dragon bloods to baobabs, as well as one tree of superlative quality — giant sequoias.
Giant sequoias are the largest trees in the world. They can live over 3,000 years (thanks to a chemical called tannin which protects against rot, insects and fire) and grow as tall as a 26-story building. They are home to an array of species, including the highly endangered California condor. But unfortunately, sequoias are also at risk. This is due to fire suppression, exacerbated by worsening climate conditions, which has created wildfires more catastrophic than the sequoias have evolved to be able to tolerate. Between 2020 and 2021, the world lost one-fifth of its giant sequoias to fires.
Don’t wait for NATIONAL THREATENED SPECIES DAY — donate now to save our planet’s BIODIVERSITY.
