I know it may sound crazy but sometimes, I do stop to appreciate the beauty of a tree. Its branches are like arms reaching out to me as if saying “Come, stay under my shade. I know you’re tired. Rest for a while. The sun’s too hot.”

Its huge trunk engages me to hug it. It tells me, “I know people are more huggable than I am but try to hug me. Commune with life’s energies. Some say it’s a form of ‘healing.’”

Then, some of its leaves fall to my feet. They fell like confetti, as if there was a celebration. The last time this happened was when I was at the play “The Night Before Christmas.”

“I feel like a winner, with all the nature confetti around me.”

Yes, you are a winner, a champion of the environment if you realize the true worth of a tree.

The Wonders of Trees

• Trees keep our air supply fresh by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.
• In one year, an acre of trees can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven up to 8700 miles.
• Trees provide shade and shelter, reducing yearly heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars.
• Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves.
• The average tree in metropolitan area survives only about 8 years!
• A tree does not reach its most productive stage of carbon storage for about 10 years.
• Trees cut down noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.
• Tree roots stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
• Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds.
• Trees provide protection from downward fall of rain, sleet, and hail as well as reduce storm run-off and the possibility of flooding,
• Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife.
• Trees located along streets act as a glare and reflection control.
• The death of one 70-year old tree would return over three tons of carbon to the atmosphere.
• Dendrochronology is the science of calculating a tree’s age by its rings.
• Tree rings provide precise information about environmental events, including volcanic eruptions.

Source: http://www.treesaregood.com

So, what is Tree-Nation?

Tree-Nation is an ecological project with a focused objective:To plant 8 million trees in the Sahara to fight desertification! Large-scale plantation of trees will increase the land’s productivity and re-generate the soil.

Tree-nation is an online community in which you can buy your own tree and become the guardian of a real and happy tree that we will plant in our park in Niger.

According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, “desertification is potentially the most threatening ecosystem change impacting livelihoods of the poor.”

Tree-Nation will plant trees in the African region, especially in the Niger area which was classified as the poorest nation in the world based on the UN’s Human Development Index.

Tree-Nation works closely with the locals in the target areas, organizations and communities to provide the best conditions that will promote the steady and healthy growth of each tree.

If you sign up with Tree-Nation:

You will play an active role in the development of the project: contributing suggestions, sharing photos and gathering ideas in the Tree-Blogs. The community will provide a platform through which everyone including, scientific experts, celebrities, politicians and students can debate and resolve global environmental challenges, and even create their own projects.

The project also utilizes GPS technology to allow you to monitor the growth of your tree wherever you are. This makes the endeavor even more dynamic, fun, enjoyable, and worthy all at the same time!

Join Tree-Nation and help make a difference in the world, one tree at a time!