The film In Celebration of Trees is full of interesting information of several different kinds of trees. The film leaves the viewer with a new respect and appreciation of trees. .
Trees serve a number of different functions for the environment. Most importantly they convert air water and nutrients to the living environment. They also provide a healthy habitat to a number of different forms of wildlife. Trees are even useful after they have died by returning vital nutrients to the soil. .
Among the many organisms that inhabit the planet, the oldest known living thing is a tree that is over 4600 years old. It is a bristle cone pine in the mountains of California called Methuselah. Bristle cone pines and other ancient trees have been around so long that they have visible wind marks. Trees can live very long and get to be very large. Sequoia redwoods for instance, can grow to lengths of around 300ft. Other trees that can grow to unbelievable sizes are Hickory, Hemlock, Cottonwood, and Oak trees. There is even a certain kind of Cactus called the Saguaro that can grow as high as 50 ft and can live for nearly 300 years.
Only as recent as 100 years ago has there been a conscientious effort to try to preserve the earth's forests. A man by the name of John Muir, who is known as one of the first naturalists, began The Sierra Club, a radical environmental club that tries to protect our wild lands. Although The Sierra Club has brought some awareness to the importance of protecting our environment, there are still issues with large lumber companies that practice clear cutting. Clear cutting is very detrimental to the environment because besides the fact that a large mountainside is being wiped out by bulldozers, they are hurting and depleting the soil, which takes 100 years to replenish only 1 inch. Today in America, due to the amount of deforestation over time, a mere 6% of the forests remain.
The film has opened my eyes to the beauty and the importance of trees.
