Trees are an integral part of our planet. They clean the air that we breathe, help remove pollutants, and provide lovely shade on a hot summer day. In fact, they’re so essential to life on Earth that merely living close to trees makes human beings healthier and happier. [1] X Research source If you want to save trees, rest assured that you don’t have to go out planting hundreds of trees to make a difference. Making a few minor lifestyle changes may not seem like a lot, but you’re sure to help make the planet a better place.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can we reduce cutting down trees?Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k.Try to reduce the amount of paper you use since trees need to get chopped down to produce more.
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QuestionHow can I prevent deforestation?Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k.Focus on buying paper products that have been made from recycled material so no new trees have to be cut down.
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QuestionWhat steps can a neighborhood community take to protect its trees?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerStart a community organization! Plant a community garden, and lobby your local politicians to protect any parks and public green spaces. You could even host weekly cleanups to make sure that your neighborhood stays clean and well-maintained.
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Tips
Tips from our Readers
- Work with your local government to create better tree ordinances that protect existing healthy mature trees, which provide exponentially more benefits, like carbon sequestration, air cleaning, cooling, etc, than newly planted trees, which will not begin to provide the same level of benefits for 80-100 years or more.
- To reduce how much paper you use, use both sides of any paper you have as well as any remaining paper in your old notebooks.
References
- ↑ https://www.fs.usda.gov/learn/trees
- ↑ https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/topics/palm-oil#start
- ↑ https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/which-everyday-products-contain-palm-oil
- ↑ https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/which-everyday-products-contain-palm-oil
- ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Sustainability Specialist. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
- ↑ https://sustainability.yale.edu/take-action/reducing-paper-use
- ↑ Kathryn Kellogg. Sustainability Specialist. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
- ↑ https://archive.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/paper/web/html/buy_recycled.html
- ↑ https://wasteadvantagemag.com/5-ways-to-tell-if-a-product-is-really-eco-friendly/
- ↑ https://www.mga.edu/sustainability/docs/Recycling_Facts.pdf
- ↑ https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/cloth-vs-paper-vs-dryers-how-to-be-clean-and-green-when-you-wipe-your-hands/
- ↑ https://www.creighton.edu/fileadmin/user/sustainability/docs/creighton-9.pdf
- ↑ https://environmentalpaper.org/2018/02/sustainability-in-the-case-of-tissue/
- ↑ https://www.todaysparent.com/pregnancy/cloth-vs-disposable-diapers/
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167739X15002289
- ↑ https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/donations
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/21/lifestyle-change-eat-less-meat-climate-change
- ↑ https://www.ecohome.net/guides/3610/what-is-fsc-certified-lumber-or-wood-and-why-choose-it/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4874420/
- ↑ https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/ten-reasons-reduce-tropical-deforestation
- ↑ https://nrcspad.sc.egov.usda.gov/DistributionCenter/pdf.aspx?productID=51
- ↑ https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2015/03/17/power-one-tree-very-air-we-breathe
About This Article
To save trees locally, learn about your community's tree removal ordinances. When you see a tree being cut down, find out why and research whether it's being done legally. To make a global impact, reduce your use of paper products like paper towels, napkins and tissues and take advantage of paperless options when it comes to bills and documents. You can also donate to or even join a nonprofit organization working to protect forests! For more tips on changing your consumption habits, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "I never realized how many benefits city trees provide besides pleasant scenery. This article framed urban forests as vital tools for combating smog, noise pollution, and even mood disorders by purifying the air. My perspective shifted to seeing every park as a crucial infrastructure boosting wellness. Now, I better understand why my city invests in tree care and feel motivated to enjoy green spaces more often." ..." more