Take action for the future, for planet

By Shannon Ramsay

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On Earth Day, I heard Julia Butterfly Hill speak at Mount Mercy University. She has grown beyond the young, determined woman who camped in the top of a giant redwood, to a mature, thoughtful leader full of vision and compassion.

I expected Julia to be a stereotypical activist, but she explained that she graduated with a business degree and had spent several years as a business owner and consultant. After a life-changing event, she followed her passion and volunteered to “tree-sit.”

Julia believes we should all find our symbolic “tree,” meaning that we should find the thing we care about most and take action. She notes that it is impossible to “not make a difference.” Whether by taking action or doing nothing, we have an effect.

As we celebrated Earth and Arbor Month in April, I was naturally focused on my symbolic tree being caring for the Earth and real trees. I hear people talk about their personal connections to a tree, a grove, a park or a preserve. Many of us spent countless hours as children playing in special places long enough to make a deep connection. As a child, I climbed trees, observing the tender green leaves and fragile blossoms of spring.

Those of us who have a deep connection to the land that provides so generously for us are the same people who understand the importance of a beautiful park or wooded area to our children and families. We understand why we need tree-lined streets - to encourage people to walk, bike and visit with their neighbors. We are the farmers who maintain natural remnants and buffers along streams and rivers, for better water quality and to provide food and shelter for butterflies and bees.

Recently, during Eco-Fest, we asked people to provide quotes on why they love trees. Here are a few examples, obviously shared by folks with a love for trees and a sense of that special place they love. I've paired them with some tree facts, primarily from U.S. Forest Service research:

l “Trees are historic, beautiful and mysterious. They represent life, imagination and hope for the future.”

Fact: Even short breaks spent in natural settings help restore the mind from the mental fatigue of work or studies, contributing to improved work performance and satisfaction.

l “If you close your eyes and let your memory wander back, there is a tree in your mind, a particular one. It was part of your very personal world, one of your innermost thoughts.”

Fact: When trees are present, people are three times more likely to get recommended amounts of exercise.

l “I love the leaves when they are green and growing, as well as when they need raked; I love the cotton that clogs my screens and I love the color of my spruce all year long, especially when the birds are visiting.”

Fact: Large trees remove 60 to 70 times more pollutants than small trees.

Spring provides us a beautiful time to reconnect with Earth's beauty. As we enjoy the outdoors, it provides us the perspective that the natural world deserves our appreciation, care and commitment - to preserve it for future generations.

l Shannon Ramsay is founding president and CEO of Trees Forever, Marion. Comments: sramsay@treesforever.org