Cut The Last Tree And The Last Man Dies- Temitope Omogbene

By Temitope O. Omogbene

Trees are earth's natural resources in great abundance seeming impossible to be used up. The paradox that besets trees is that they are ubiquitous and prolific yet of their advantage many people are unaware.  And they hold so many benefits incredible for sustaining global life and existence.

Standing trees are pronounced in their ecological perks as they provide beneficial environmental services that keep the world habitable and free from natural disasters. 

They serve as wind breakage in stormy seasons. Flooding is hindered when the soil is kept compact by the action of the root network of trees. In the countrysides, the temperate and conducive climate is enjoyed by the action of tree canopies preventing direct radiation to the ground which is absorbed and deflected, heating up the atmosphere. Avenues, orchards, and parks are a beautiful sight to gaze at. 

Trees beautify landscapes and provide the environment with a natural aesthetic touch.

An average mature tree produces 100kg of oxygen per year; a man breathes about 740kg of oxygen per year which is, very roughly, seven or eight trees' worth (Science Focus, 2019). Man cannot inevitably live without trees as the oxygen that man needs for respiration is what trees give out to the atmosphere. These are all and more man has been gaining while trees are yet standing from time immemorial.

According to Worldometers, the world population is 7.7 billion with a 1.07% growth increase per year. The Earth Policy Institute states that forests cover 31% of the world land surface. The man keeps placing a heavy demand on forest trees as UN FAO opines that each year the world lost on average 7.3 million hectares of forest. From this assessment, the world would contain scanty forests inadequate for life sustainability in just a matter of a few centuries. And gradually as the year unfolds, if care is not taken, our planet will be at a huge risk of discomfort to man's livelihood, and great endangerment from natural disasters.

Now, do we have hope? 

Can the cause of the globe be salvaged sustainably for our children unborn? 

The solution hinges on our intentional action to preserve life by giving attention to the forest. Like the famous rug in "The Big Lebowski," forests really tie everything together - and we often don't appreciate them until they are gone (Russell Mclendon, 2014).

It is the week of The World's Largest Lesson, and in conjunction with Youths Rescue and Care Initiative (YORCI), this is to educate Nigerian youths about the Global Goals for Sustainable Development to end climate change by 2030. Follow the week trend about Global Goals @WorldsLargestLessons with the link: CLICK HERE

Temitope Omogbene, an Environmentalist (Forestry and Wood Technology graduate of Federal University of Technology, Akure), Researcher and Pharmacognosy enthusiast [omogbene.t.o@gmail.com] [linkedin.com/in/temitope-omogbene-268849181].