Why Trees are Special

It is so easy to take trees for granted, but in fact they are essential elements for the ecological balance of our environments. Trees are instrumental in offering a fertile basis for most land based-ecological processes. A healthy green cover can in fact regenerate even the most highly degraded eco-system. It is under green cover that plant and animal species thrive and brooks and rivers start flowing again.
Trees provide us with much required resources like food, fuel and oxygen, and they combat pollution of the atmosphere. The beauty and tranquillity of trees also nurtures our intuitive sense of a deep connection to nature. It is for this reason that ancient cultures designated trees as sacred. In fact, the Indian sub-continent has an established tradition of growing sacred groves in every village.
Specific examples of why trees matter:

• Trees alter the environment in which we live by moderating climate, improving air quality, conserving water, and preserving wildlife.
• Trees prevent or reduce soil erosion and water pollution
• They act as a wind barriers during cyclones
• During monsoons trees intercept and store rainwater and reduce the possibility of flooding
• They cool temperatures during hot summers
• Regenerate lost flora and fauna
• Act as carbon sinks, absorbing air pollutants and improving the air quality thus mitigating the effects of global warming.
• Add beauty and grace to any community setting

Particular Repercussions of deforestation:

• Leads to soil erosion or impoverishment, especially in tropical areas where soils tend to be thin and nutrient-poor.
• Results in habitat loss, which is a leading cause of species endangerment and biodiversity loss.
• Affects the hydrological cycle through changes in evapo-transpiration and run-off. This frequently results in the creation of arid landscapes that are prone to fire.

Thanks to  http://www.projectgreenhands.org