Throughout the eons, humans have looked at trees from different viewpoints. Some of these perspectives were rooted in fiction and imbued with magic and myth, while others were planted firmly in facts, growing steadfast in the soil of science.

 

Just as varied are the benefits people attribute to trees. For some, trees have spiritual powers and for others forests are the source of emotional and psychological healing.

 

The Japanese practice of “forest bathing”, for instance, has become a popular eco therapy all over the world.Relaxing among trees, they say, lowers blood pressure and suppresses the “fight or flight” sympathetic system.

 

Prof Stefan Siebert from Botany agrees. “Research has shown that walking among trees has a calming effect and is exceptionally good for reducing stress levels and lowering heart rate.”

 

When it comes to our planet and our future, there is no doubt that trees are part of our saving grace.

 

 Plant trees for better living conditions

 

Stefan says trees play an important role in slowing down global warming by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide. They also produce great amounts of oxygen, stabilise the soil and are a source of life for a variety of organisms.

 

They provide shelter and act as a food source for diverse communities of birds, insects, mosses, lichens and fungi. Common oaks, such as the ones in the streets of Potchefstroom, can house up to 500 different species, Stefan says.

 

“It is especially in cities and towns with high levels of pollution and few open spaces where trees play an important role in humans’ physical and mental health.”He explains that the trees’ leaf canopies work as a filter to catch dust and pollutants in the air. “Furthermore, they give shade and create a cool micro climate. The leaf canopies also reduce noise pollution.”

 

Some trees, such as the Maidenhair tree on the tree route Botany has established on the Potchefstroom Campus, also have medicinal value. Leaf extracts of this tree are known to promote brain function and blood flow in humans.

 

Stefan points out that man-made forests are becoming more popular as an educational source in urban areas.

 

 “There will soon be more people living in cities than in the countryside and it is becoming more and more important to understand the important role trees fulfil in the environment,” he says.

 

Whether your heart is open to finding spiritual solace among trees or your mind appreciates their scientific value, we should all cherish trees. Looking at them through the lens of fact or fiction, we all need these gracious giants.