The theme of this year's Earth Day is: Trees for the Earth.
Earth Day is annually celebrated on 22 April. It marks an important environmental day that is celebrated all over the world. The Earth Day Network aims to plant 7.8 billion trees. The organisation notes that "trees will be the first of five major goals we are undertaking in honor of the five-year countdown to our 50th anniversary". These positive initiatives will impact the environment which will ultimately lead to a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet for all.
There are several reasons why trees were chosen, mainly because (Earth Day Organisation 2016):
- Trees help combat climate change. They absorb excess and harmful CO2 from our atmosphere. In fact, in a single year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced by driving the average car 26,000 miles.
- Trees help us breathe clean air. Trees absorb odours and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.
- Trees help communities. Trees help communities achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability and provide food, energy and income.
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Source: www.lynchburgparksandrec.com |
The Earth Day Network. Available from: http://www.earthday.org/earth-day/earth-day-theme/#sthash.o31ffYg6.dpuf
