I was walking early this morning and appreciating the trees. I have always loved the deciduous trees in winter because that is when you can truly see the essence of each one. Their unique shape, which seems almost like their personality, becomes clear when they are not clothed in their summer covering of leaves.
Trees are essential to so many life forms. They provide shelter and food not only for birds and squirrels, but for numerous insects including some butterfly species. They often have hollow cavities which provide safe nesting and hibernating for many mammals, as well as birds. Sloths, bats, hummingbirds, snakes, frogs, orangutans, toucans, parrots, and many species of monkey, like the spider monkey, live almost their entire lives in tree canopies. Every part of a tree provides something for the native fauna. They also provide for many lichens and mosses and vines, which use them as support to climb on. Leaves that have fallen protect plants and over-wintering insects. Then they feed the soil which will in turn feed the next generation of trees and the plants surrounding it. When a tree has died, it is known as a snag, but it continues to be an essential element in the landscape, serving other life even in its death. Oak trees are the mother of all trees, providing for more species than any other tree. Many of the oaks and other slow growing hardwoods have been wantonly cut down. If they are replaced at all, it is with monocultures of faster growing pines.
Trees provide a definite benefit for human beings. They provide all of our fruits and nuts, and they provide shade and protection from winter storms. Despite the necessity of trees in the lives of so many other lives, most people ignore them. They look upon them as upon an inanimate object. For the most part, they are unappreciated, neglected, and often abused. The clear cutting of forests is the most heinous of crimes. We rarely consider the mass murder of millions of trees each year, to celebrate a manmade holiday, as wrong. This practice of growing trees specifically for the purpose of becoming Christmas trees, is defended in the same narrow minded way, as is the factory farming of animals for meat. Humans are quite adept at making excuses for their conduct and justifying even their most abhorrent behavior. Isn’t it time to re-think some of the traditions that have been passed down for generations? In light of global warming and over-population, shouldn’t we be questioning every single thing that we have taken for granted? Trees and plants are as essential to our own lives, as is the sun and clean water and pure air. We speak of Mother Earth, but her trees are the embodiment of her love.
