Trees, without them we would be lost. Trees are the natural filters of the air we breathe and the water we drink. They are home to countless animals and insects, and they help to combat greenhouse effects.

Trees are necessary for our survival. Through photosynthesis trees produce the all important gas we cannot live without: Oxygen. As we breathe in, our bodies take in Oxygen and when we breathe out, we release Carbon Dioxide (CO2.) Trees do the opposite. They take in Carbon Dioxide and release Oxygen. This cleans the air by removing poisonous Carbon Dioxide so that people and animals can breathe.

Did you know?
By planting one tree, you are taking a small step to reduce CO2 levels. By planting an acre of trees, you can take pride in knowing that these trees will eventually absorb enough CO2 over one year to compensate for driving a car almost 14,000 kilometres.
From Trees Ontario - Learn More.

Tallest trees

The heights of the tallest trees in the world have been the subject of considerable dispute and much exaggeration. Modern verified measurement with laser rangefinders combined with tape drop measurements made by tree climbers, carried out by the U.S. Eastern Native Tree Society has shown that some older measuring methods and measurements are often unreliable, sometimes producing exaggerations of 5% to 15% above the real height. Historical claims of trees of 130 m (427 ft), and even 150 m (492 ft), are now largely disregarded as unreliable, and attributed to human error.  Historical records of fallen trees measured prostrate on the ground are considered to be far more reliable. The following are now accepted as the top five tallest reliably measured species in recent years:

1. Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens): 115.55 m (379.1 ft), Redwood National Park, California, United States
2. Australian Mountain-ash (Eucalyptus regnans): 99.6 m (326.8 ft), south of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
3. Coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii): 99.4 m (326.1 ft), Brummit Creek, Coos County, Oregon, United States
4. Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis): 96.7 m (317.3 ft), Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California, United States
5. Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum): 94.9 m (311.4 ft), Redwood Mountain Grove, Kings Canyon National Park, California, United States

From Wikipedia - Trees

For more fun facts about trees check out EcoKids.

Parts of a Tree

	Root - original from Wikipedia
	The root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial (growing above the ground) or aerating (growing up above the ground or especially above water).  So, it is better to define root as a part of a plant body that bears no leaves, and therefore also lacks nodes. There are also important internal structural differences between stems and roots. The two major functions of roots are 1) absorption of water and inorganic nutrients and 2) anchoring of the plant body to the ground. In response to the concentration of nutrients, roots also synthesise cytokinin, which acts as a signal as to how fast the shoots can grow. Roots often function in storage of food and nutrients. Roots will generally grow in any direction where the correct environment of air, mineral nutrients and water exists to meet the plant's needs. Roots will not grow in dry soil. Over time, given the right conditions, roots can crack foundations, snap water lines, and lift sidewalks. At germination, roots grow downward due to gravitropism, the growth mechanism of plants that also causes the shoot to grow upward.
	Trunk - original from Wikipedia
	In botany, trunk (or bole) refers to the main reproductive member of a tree that supports the branches and is supported by and directly attached to the roots. The trunk is covered by the bark, which is an important diagnostic feature in tree identification, and which often differs markedly from the bottom of the trunk to the top, depending on the species. The trunk is the most important part of the tree for timber production.
	Branch - original from Wikipedia
	tree branch (sometimes referred to in botany as a ramus) is a woody structural member connected to but not part of the central trunk of a tree (or sometimes a shrub). Large branches are known as boughs and small branches are known as twigs.[1] While branches can be nearly horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, the majority of trees have upwardly diagonal branches. The term "twig" often refers to a terminal branch, while "bough" refers only to branches coming directly from the trunk.
	Leaf - original from Wikipedia
	In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. For this purpose, a leaf is typically flat (laminar) and thin, to expose the cells containing chloroplast to light over a broad area, and to allow light to penetrate fully into the tissues. Leaves are also the sites in most plants where transpiration and guttation take place. Leaves can store food and water, and are modified in some plants for other purposes. A structurally complete leaf of an angiosperm consists of a petiole (leaf stem), a lamina (leaf blade), and stipules (small processes located to either side of the base of the petiole). The petiole attaches to the stem at a point called the "leaf axil". A leaf is considered a plant organ and typically consists of the following tissues: An epidermis that covers the upper and lower surfaces An interior chlorenchyma called the mesophyll An arrangement of veins (the vascular tissue).
Contact Nova Scotia Forestry Association P.O. Box 6901 Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia B9A 2W2 Phone (902) 625-2935 Fax (902) 625-3045 Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Special thanks to Nova Scotia Forestry Association, for this great image that shows the entire system of how a tree grows Click to enlarge Off click to return

Planting Trees

EcoKids has an excellent guide for children on the how's and why's of planting trees.  They cover the planing, selecting and caring for your new tree.  Here is a small excerpt from their selecting a tree,  follow the link above to learn all about planting trees in your area.

• Choose trees that like the soil and moisture conditions of your site (this will reduce maintenance tasks, such as extra watering and fertilizing).
• Pick species that are native to your area, as these are best adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, flourish without chemical applications, provide food and shelter to local wildlife and represent part of your natural heritage and biodiversity.
• Coniferous trees are generally recommended over deciduous trees, as they have a better chance of surviving and require less care.
• Although young trees with established root systems stand a better chance of survival, seedlings and small shrubs are easier for kids to plant. Proper handling and planting of seedlings should be discussed beforehand.

Tree Planting Projects

Trees Ontario promotes scientifically-based tree planting and forestry practices.  They provide financial and practical assistance to Ontario landowners who plant trees on their property, and they draw on the expertise of partners to ensure that the tree planting initiatives they support benefit the health of the entire forest ecosystem, matching the appropriate species to the local planting site conditions.

On this site you will learn about various projects that are taking place across Ontario.  Logon and join in, be part of the solution that ensures our children's future.  Projects such as the 50 Million Tree Program initiated by the Ontario Government in Augest 2007 to plat over 50 million trees by 2020.