Breathe in the Magic of Green!

To keep breathing—we breathe around 16 times per minute—we depend on oxygen from TREES! This life-sustaining oxygen is produced by the incredible process of photosynthesis that is carried out in tree leaves, green plants, and aquatic plants. Photosynthesis, named from the Greek for “light” and “putting together”, is fundamental to life on Earth – truly GREEN MAGIC!

How does this green magic work? It all happens in chloroplasts, where chlorophyll, the pigment that makes tree leaves appear green to us, absorbs light energy (mostly from sunlight), which excites electrons. This energy powers a chain of reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The glucose feeds the plant, while the oxygen, a by-product of the split water molecules, is released into the air, for us to breathe!

But trees and green plants need humans, too! Photosynthesis relies on carbon dioxide to produce the glucose they need to stay alive, and we exhale that during respiration, the process that provides the energy we need to stay alive. This mutual exchange links us in a beautiful cycle with the green world around us. Trees EXhale oxygen. We INhale it. We EXhale carbon dioxide. Trees INhale it! And yes, the process of respiration is the reverse of photosynthesis!

Photosynthesis is essentially the engine that powers life on our planet. Photosynthesis plays a crucial role in the regulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide; is the primary food and energy source for almost all of Earth’s ecosystems, and provides the oxygen essential for the respiration of most living organisms. While much of this oxygen—estimated at 50 to 80 %—is generated by aquatic life, the rest comes from terrestrial plant life, with TREES being a significant contributor thanks to their size, life-span, and dense foliage.

So…HUG A TREE! Every tree you can. Breathe deeply, breathing out YOUR waste product؅—carbon dioxide, and breathing in the tree’s waste product—oxygen! CARE FOR TREES with water and mulch. STAND UNDER A TREE AND LOOK UP, to marvel at its majesty and enjoy the shade.

Try “forest bathing”—a mindful walk in the woods using all senses to fully immerse yourself in nature, either on your own or as part of a guided experience. Forest bathing reconnects us to the natural world and has also been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and even ignite creative thinking! When we breathe amongst the trees, we remember: We are nature, too. And, be sure to pass on your experience to others so they might also try it out!