Promoting Respect for Trees in the Hindu Community 13/08/2026

The Value of Trees

Trees purify the air we breathe

Forests act as massive carbon sinks, storing carbon in their trunks, branches, leaves, and soil for decades or even centuries. Globally, forests absorb nearly 16 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and hold approximately 861 gigatonnes of carbon in their ecosystems.
Air pollutant particles from ash, dust, smoke, etc. stick to leaf surfaces instead of staying in the air. When it rains, the particles are washed off the leaves into the soil, and are broken down by microbes, permanently removing them from the air.
Additionally, trees can “eat” pollution through tiny pores (stomata) on their leaves, absorbing gases directly into their internal tissues, not just trapping them on the surface.
Trees reduce nearby air pollution in urban areas by up to 60%.

Trees are crucial food sources for the survival of many animals. Leaves, acorns, berries, seeds, nuts, bark, and sap are all important parts of the tree, eaten by a wide range of animals. Even the roots share sugars with fungi, which then support insects and soil organisms that feed birds and mammals!
A wide range of wildlife relies on trees for their habitats and nesting spaces. Birds nest in bark crevices, bats roost in old woodpecker holes, insects thrive in canopies, etc. A single oak tree can support up to 2,300 animal species.
Trees are often the home of invisible ecosystems – for example, aphids, ants, fungi, mosses, and over 700 species of lichen live on and around oak trees.
Trees are important for pollination, as pollinations can more easily access large quantities of nectar and pollen in a single location rather than flowers scattered in different locations.
"Specialist pollinators", such as solitary bees, hoverflies, and moths, may rely almost entirely on certain tree species for survival.

Exposure to trees is scientifically proven to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and provide an array of other health benefits.
Viewing vegetation decreases brain activity associated with negative emotions, inducing a calmer state of mind.
Being near trees increases activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for rest, recovery, and emotional regulation, encouraging slower breathing and heart rates.
Walking among trees has been shown to increase alpha brain wave activity, linked to relaxed but alert mental states.
Conifers release chemicals that provide positive health effects when inhaled by humans, including significantly reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, and an increased number and activity of natural killer (NK) cells, responsible for the immune system.

In regions where people are highly religious, understanding the importance of trees in their faith may help them to become more closely connected with nature and foster a desire to protect it.
In Islam, the Shajeratan Mubarakah (Blessed Tree), specifically the olive tree mentioned in Surah An-Nur (24:35), symbolises divine attributes.
In Christianity and Judaism, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge stand at the centre of creation, anchoring the biblical narrative of humanity’s relationship with the divine. The Jewish minor holiday of Tu BiShvat celebrates trees and what they offer us.

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