Did you know that being around trees lowers your blood pressure and pulse rate? But that’s not all! Kids perform better on tests and have reduced symptoms on ADHD after spending time around trees and in nature. Trees along city streets raise home values by an average of $8,000.

The trees around us are constantly “on the job,” working for us in ways we don’t often think about. Trees also provide habitat for wildlife, wood products, and shade for our homes. Trees work in so many incredibly important and surprising ways!

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s educational Trees Work campaign is meant to increase awareness of the benefits our trees and forests provide. Many of us appreciate the beauty of an oak releasing its tender spring leaves or a maple shading our deck without being aware of the real and valuable benefits those trees are providing for our health, our families, our wallets and our environment.

The Trees Work campaign helps Missourians know all the ways trees and forests are working for us in our everyday lives. But it also provides information on what you can do to take care of the trees around you, whether you have a small back yard or acres of property.

Whether it’s a walk in the park, playtime in the backyard, or a hike through the woods, get outdoors and see how trees work for you and your family. Visit www.treeswork.org to learn more and get involved. Plant a tree this spring and help spread the message that Trees Work!

Beyond Belief:
Trees Work Fact or Fiction
Which one of the following statements is fiction and which are true? See if you can pick the liar out of the bunch. Hint: Only one is wrong.

1. The forest products industry contributed over $9 billion to Missouri’s economy in the last year, which is more than the total net worth of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg combined.
2. The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.
3. The presence of street trees in a neighborhood increases the sale prices of houses by an average of $8,000.
4. Your smartphone is comprised of 65 percent recycled wood products.

Answers: 1–3 are true. Number 4 is total fiction!

This entry was posted on Monday, April 30th, 2018 at 7:27 pm and is filed under May 2018. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.