The tree - a masterpiece of nature

The last article was already about the tree and the devastating consequences of its disappearance. The following text will take another look at the topic of trees - it would be a shame to devote just one report to them. This time, however, we will leave out the dark side of deforestation and focus on exciting, interesting and astonishing facts.

The last article was already about the tree and the devastating consequences of its disappearance. The following text will take another look at the topic of trees - it would be a shame to devote just one report to them. This time, however, we will leave out the dark side of deforestation and focus on exciting, interesting and astonishing facts about the tree. Here we go!

Switzerland as a land of trees

The fact that Switzerland is home to numerous tree species is obvious even if you don't know anything about trees. Everywhere there is a place for them and thus the opportunity to literally put down roots - be it on a street somewhere in a city or in your own garden - trees are part of us. Depending on their location, they are assigned a completely different meaning. The tree on the street, for example, gives it much more charm. The tree in the garden, on the other hand, may provide a refuge for the cat or serve as a sought-after source of fruit. Regardless of where and to what extent they occur: Trees were and are part of our landscape and our culture.

In the following, "WaldSchweiz" offers you some exciting facts about our trees:

1. One third of the country is covered by forest. Around 535 million trees adorn it.
2. The most common trees are spruce, fir and beech.
3. The average tree in our region lives to be 100 years old, but the oldest trees actually live to be a proud 1,500 years old!
4. The largest tree in Switzerland is the Douglas fir, which originates from North America and is 61 meters tall. You can marvel at it in Madiswil (BE).
5. If you are one of those who suffer from annoying hay fever and can no longer open your eyes, then stay away from the quaking aspen! They produce up to 500 million pollen in spring. Nasty!
6. Around 5 million^m3 of wood is harvested each year. Half of this is sold as "trunk wood" and a third is used as "energy wood". In addition, 150,000 Christmas trees are harvested each year (which are usually disposed of after a few days). How about renting a Christmas tree in a pot instead? E.g. at baumfreunde.ch!
7. Around 45% of the forest offers valuable protection, e.g. against avalanches or rockfall.
8. Our forests are considered to store around 150 million tons of carbon!
9. Do you heat your home with oil? Then why don't you switch to wood? You can save more than 3 kg_{of CO2} per liter

Structure of a tree

Trees are considered to be very robust and can withstand quite a lot (which may also explain their great age). But how do they manage this? To find out, the following facts about the structure of a tree will certainly fascinate you. Have fun!

1. The tree is a woody plant. The trunk serves as the body, which consists of numerous layers, all of which fulfill a specific function.
2. The roots are mainly underground. They provide the tree with support and absorb nutrients and water. They also act as a storage organ for the starch stored during photosynthesis.
3. Anyone who has ever marveled at the cross-section of a tree trunk will have noticed that it consists of numerous annual rings, which document the age and the fateful years of a tree. Wide rings are formed, for example, when there is enough rain. Thin rings, on the other hand, form due to drought or pest infestation.
4. In spring, nature comes back to life after its winter sleep. So do the buds of the leaves that will adorn the branches of the tree. However, the leaves or needles do not only fulfill their purpose visually, because with the help of photosynthesis, the sugar and starch important for the tree is produced.
5. The tree's adaptability is demonstrated by the fact that it finds ways to resist climate change. The increased CO2 content in the air leads to increased water use efficiency by regulating the stomata in the pores of the leaves in such a way that the uptake of carbon is maximized and the loss of water is minimized at the same time. According to the WSL research institute, this will not affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, but it does show that nature is not simply accepting climate change.

Benefits for the environment

Like everything that nature produces, the tree is a small - or in its case, rather large - masterpiece. It is designed to adapt perfectly to its environment and can therefore survive for a very long time without any problems. As if this were not enough to make us realize again how valuable our nature is, the tree also brings benefits for the environment - and ultimately for us too. After reading the following facts at the latest, the tree should be recognized as a true wonder of nature.

1. The tree as an efficient _CO2 store. Trees remove the greenhouse gas_CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow and thus make an important contribution to climate protection. On average, a single tree binds around 10 kg of_CO2 per year. A huge achievement!
2. The tree as part of the water cycle. Trees are responsible for evapotranspiration, i.e. water evaporates and causes precipitation elsewhere through cloud formation. Water is absorbed by the roots or in the form of raindrops and released again.
3. The tree as the lungs of the city. Trees not only filter the air, they also emit vital oxygen. A single tree can absorb up to 5 kg of air pollutants and produce 130 kg of oxygen in the same period.
4. As part of the forest, the tree makes an important contribution to soil storage by creating buffer capacities that are available when it rains and thus protect against erosion.

Although trees occupy a large part of our land area, their existence should not be taken for granted. Trees make up an important part of our environment by providing many useful properties. However, in order to not only benefit from their advantages, I see it as our duty to protect the tree as much as possible. In the end, we all benefit from it.