Arbor Day is April 26

National Arbor Day is more than just planting trees to enhance the environment around us. Every tree planted represents hope for the future. The simple act of planting a tree represents a belief that the tree will grow to provide us with clean air and water, cooling shade, habitat for wildlife, healthier communities, and endless natural beauty. With deforestation on the rise, every tree planted counts for a better tomorrow.

The effects of deforestation

• Loss of species - Plants and animals that call forests home are vital to local ecosystems. Deforestation threatens those species because removing the trees from their natural habitats erases the canopy that regulates the temperature within the forest. According to the Pachamama Alliance, a global community dedicated to environmental sustainability, once that canopy is removed, the temperatures within forested areas undergo a drastic variation from day to night. That change could ultimately prove fatal for species that currently live in forests.