Trees are Life

Long ago, forests covered much of the world. They provided shelter and protection, food and resources, and held together complex ecosystems from the soil to the weather. But as people stopped moving from place to place and began to clear away trees to plant crops, the landscape began to change. The soil began to wash away and what was once lush and green became dry and dusty. Like many countries, Ethiopia has suffered widespread deforestation. In response, Ethiopia initiated a country-wide reforestation program called the “Green Legacy” that culminated in the planting of over 350 million trees in 2019, a world record. This tremendous effort, consisting of indigenous and fruit-bearing trees, may help regrow the lush forests that once covered much of East Africa. Environmental restoration on this scale has the potential to not only improve the local ecosystems but may impact the climate of the entire region. Trees strengthen the topsoil, increase the amount of oxygen, and provide protection and habitats for wildlife. They are some of the oldest living things on earth, and we honor them with lush watercolors by art students at Clark College in our look at the vital role trees play in the lives of all living creatures.