The Impact of Dead Trees: A Sustainability Perspective

By being the “lungs of our planet”, trees are considered one of the most important ecological factors which can affect global climate. To reduce raging global warming, it is highly recommended that we take additional precautions concerning the preservation of these fragile species. In addition, the fewer people mess around their natural habitats, the more likely they will be to preserve it. In most cases, the best way to help nature is to leave it to take care of its own.

Habitat

Deadwood is an important contributor to reducing the negative effects of the wind. Whether concerning fallen logs, or stand-up trees, they work as “wind-breakers”, reducing their strength and power. The flow of the air is slowed down, so erosion of the soil is drastically reduced. In addition, some forests have very delicate microclimates, especially concerning moisture and rain, so any messing around could prove fatal for that habitat.

Dead trees form a “cover” for keeping the water in the soil, thus boosting the growth of surrounding vegetation. Of course, this doesn’t mean that if you find yourself stranded in the forest, you should freeze to death, in order not to light a fire to preserve nature, but a prolonged period of taking from nature can scar it gravely.

House

Not only can the trees be affected by humans’ influence, but the endangered species as well. For being a great source of food and biomass, logs and tree debris attract numerous species varying from the tiniest of fungi to bigger ones, such as owls and squirrels. Some of these species, such as invertebrate ones live in and feed upon dead trees, and through them, the circulation of natural fertilizer is provided.

It is also important to notice that certain species are settled in hollow logs and are using it as a shelter. This covers a huge variety of birds and predatory ones like owls and eagles to herbivore ones, where we can mention woodpeckers and robins. Moreover, a quite large amount of mammals benefit from logs as well, ranging from squirrels which build their homes within, to mice, which can settle beneath the dead wood, using it as a natural heat preserver.

People

For a prolonged period, humans have exploited nature’s resources, using those for its’ needs, without thinking if their actions are affecting the delicate balance. Dead, rotten, and semi-dead trees are great sources of firewood, but usually, man doesn’t pay attention. But, some people take care of the drawbacks of piling up this cover.

In a recent conversation with the people from a reputed local tree service, I found out that a huge amount of dead trees and debris can suffocate the younger trees, by slowing down their growth and development. Too much water held within the soil can harm the roots of the saplings, making it rotten, and in this way, the forest cannot rejuvenate and renew itself, and will slowly die out.

So, with everything said taken into consideration, the very best thing we can do is to start paying attention to nature’s cycles, stop being selfish and taking care only of our welfare, and improve overall life conditions for all the inhabitants of this planet.