Interesting Facts About Trees
One of mankind’s greatest and most important natural resources are our trees. They appear everywhere but more often than not, are unappreciated. Trees are one of the largest contributing factors to the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. They keep the air supply clean by using Carbon Dioxide as nutrition and releasing clean oxygen into the air. As the longest living organisms on the planet, their only threats are natural disasters and mankind. Additionally, they reduce noise pollution, improve water quality, help prevent erosion, provide food and building materials, create shade and help make our planet look beautiful. Here are more facts and figures about the longest living organisms on Earth, our Trees.

• The shade and wind buffering provided by trees reduces annual heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars.
• Each average-sized tree provides an estimated $7 savings in annual environmental benefits, including energy conservation and reduced pollution.
• A single tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. That means two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of four!
• Water originating in our national forests provide drinking water for over 3400 communities, and approximately 60 million individuals.
• One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26,000 miles.
• Over the course its life, a single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide.
• An average American uses about 750 pounds of paper every year, and 95% of homes are built using wood. That means each person uses the equivalent of one 100-foot tall, 16-inch diameter, tree every year for their paper and wood product needs.
• About one third of the United States of America is covered by forestland.
• According to the last forest inventory, there are almost 247 billion trees over 1 inch in diameter in the U.S.
• The average tree in an urban/city area has a life expectancy of only 8 years.
• The tallest tree in the country is a Coast Redwood growing in northern California’s Redwood National Park. It is 369 feet tall and over 2000 years old!