Hug a Tree

 Today is National Hug A TREE Day. 

On May 16th each year, the holiday celebrates the joys of life provided by trees. 

Most species of trees tend to be long-lived. Some trees live to be several thousand years old. They typically live longer than humans and perhaps most everything else on the planet. Trees can live anywhere from less than 100 years to more than a few thousand years depending on the species. However, one species in particular outlives them all. The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine has been deemed the oldest tree in existence, reaching an age of over 5,000 years old.   

In 1964, Donal Rusk Currey killed the oldest tree ever. The tree was a Great Basin bristlecone pine, and Currey didn’t mean to kill it. It was an accident, and one he didn’t really understand the ramifications of until he started counting rings. Basically, Currey got his tree corer stuck in the tree. So stuck that it wouldn’t come out. An unwitting park ranger helped him by cutting the tree down, to remove the instrument, and later Currey began to count the rings. Eventually, he realized that the tree he had just felled was almost 5,000 years old – the oldest tree ever recorded. Though members of the scientific community and press were outraged that the tree was killed, Currey’s mistake ultimately provided the impetus to establish Great Basin National Park to protect the bristlecones. 

 According to the U.S. Forest Service, about 766 million acres of forest land exist in the United States. This number has held steady since 2012. How trees are utilized and managed has changed in the last 400 years. Where people live and how we farm has also changed. While some urban forests increase, other areas see a decline. Tree planting programs improve landscapes but human activities and population growth continue to impact ecosystems. Trees provide more than just beautiful landscapes and a shady canopy on a sunny day. They play a significant role in reducing erosion and moderating the climate as well as giving us oxygen. Large quantities of carbon are stored in their tissues as trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They slso provide habitat and structure for strong ecosystems. Trees are a vital part of nature so this is a good day to plant a new one or spend some time enjoying the beauty of the trees that are all around you. Or, climb up into your favorite tree, and share some quality time with it. You will both benefit from the experience.

I am fortunate to be visiting Washington for Hug A Tree Day so I am surrounded by their beauty so I will definitely take the opportunity to go out and give one a great big hug. 

How about you?