The Value of a Tree

As nature recalls our inhuman acts in the most insensitive but widely observable ways in the form of floods, droughts, soil-erosion, landslides and soil-infertility, we are bound to neglect the importance of forests and trees owing to our hectic lifestyle and I-don’t-care attitude towards the natural society. We think of increasing our bank account amounts, of improving our livelihood and of living a life of luxury. But what we ignore is the fact that ignoring trees costs us this huge sum of money that we might be able to save.

A tree does these things in the most natural and cost-free way as possible. It does not ask us to invest a lot, neither it asks us to give a lump-sum monetary deposit so that it may provide us a service. It neither does complex diagnosis to treat us, nor it asks for a favor in return for its services. It is lying at its place in the most vegetative manner as possible, without causing a problem for us in terms of space it occupies. It is happy and contented with the little care it asks from us.

And then, it does the most amazing things that we may never have imagined. I repeat here what Prof. T.M. Das of the University of Calcutta has said.

An average tree living for 50 years

• generates $31,250 worth of Oxygen
• provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control
• controls soil-erosion and increases soil fertility worth $31,250
• recycles waste-water worth $37,500
• provides shelter to animals worth $31,250

This makes an overall self-worth of a tree to $193,250 , a value much more than self-worth of a big part of our population. While this value may be misleading for some people, we must consider the magnitude rather than actual value they possess. And this is exclusive of the actual commercial value that we assume after cutting it (whose magnitude is in no way comparable to its natural one). Plus it is soothing for our eyes (green color has always been), helps us adore the beauty of natural landscapes and provides us a good weekend retreat and cool environs (imagine living in a desert and bearing its scorching heat). So, next time, if you think of cutting a tree, better calculate its self worth in order to calculate the loss you will be going to incur in near future.

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