M3.9 PDC+++¿Why are trees so important? If we all plant some 10,0000 trees each we can prevent

climate catastrophe, regenerate lost soils, increase biodiversity and preserve vital ecosystems & cycles. Trees are the biggest and oldest living beings on Earth. But

around 75% of the ancient forest are vanished for human action.

So it's urgent for us to know and understand trees, how to plant them, how to care for them,how to return them to their most important place in nature.In this class we will learn about tree biology and tree functions as well as their influence in our culture.

of the

PDC++ +

M3.9 Treesan integral exploration

Wangari Maathai

"Until you have dug a hole, 

planted a tree, you water it & you make it survive, 

you haven't done anything.

 You're only talking"

It's the little things citizens

do.

That's what will make the difference.

My little thing is planting

trees.

The Basics

Growing & Maintaining Trees

Tree Guilds & Types of Forests

Culture, Stories, Society

Climbing the Tree

M3.9 Treesan integral exploration

The Basics

Growing & Maintaining Trees

Tree Guilds & Types of Forests

Culture, Stories, Society

Climbing the Tree

M3.9 Treesan integral exploration

There are more than 80.000 species of trees worldwide.

From tiny arctic willows to giant redwoods

Trees are the tallest free-standing organisms in the world. They live longer and

become larger than any other living organism on earth

trees are an example of ‘convergent evolution’; this is when one or more unrelated livings things adopt the same

biological traits to solve similar problems

In this case a single woody stem to achieve height in order to get enough light.

How to distinguish one tree from another?

Size and Shape

Trunk pattern, texture and colour

Leaf shape, size and colour

Winter twigs and budsFlowers, fruit or cones

Perennial or deciduous

Broad leaf orconiferous

Angiosperms andGymnosperms

How trees grow?Extension growth:At the tips of each bud and root there are cells called meristem that actively divide themselves

Secondary growth:The cambium cells produce the radial growth of the tree, On the outer side of the cambium new cells are added to the phloem. On the inner side of the cambium new woody cells are added to the xylem.

Tree structure

transports sugary sap made during photosynthesis from the leaves to all the other parts of the tree.

Sapwood transports water (by capillarity) from the roots to the leaves

Heartwood or woody parts of the Xylem give structure to the tree.

Bark protects the tree from the weather, pests, infections,...

Bark

CambiumPhloem

Xylem

If we look closer we discover a

very complex organism

Mycorrhizal roots contain fungal tissue and have an altered

structure.

Instead of bark root have epidermis and root hairs and act as gatekeepers for the

trees, controlling which substances get

into the tree

The tree get most of the Energy from the

photosyntesis on the leaves

Tree functionsSome curiosities:Sales prices of homes with trees increased by 3.5% to 4.5% over similar properties without trees.Consumer ratings of retail establishments were up to 80% higher for business districts with street trees and other landscaping. Recuperation rates were faster for patients whose windows offered views of a wooded landscape.Less violence occurred in public housing where there were trees.

Food

MicroclimateTrees cool the earth and the air and regulate humidity

For example in the city:

-Properly placed trees can reduce heating and cooling costs by 10-20% on average within 10-15 years after planting.

-Trees reduce surface asphalt temperatures by up to 36° F and vehicle cabin temperatures by 47° F.

Edge/BiodiversityTree hedgerows act

as a wildlife corridor and are hosts of a great

biodiversity

Soil Protection and Regeneration

Trees protect soil from erosion and create it inch

by inch

Energy and materials

Beauty...

On the dry Island of Hierro in the Canary Islands, there is a legend of the rain tree; a giant “Til” tree. “ the leaves of wich condensed the mountain mists and caused water to drip into two large cisterns which where placed beneath. The tree was destroyed in a storm in 1612 A.D. But the site is known, and the remnants of the cistern preserved...(This one tree) distilled sufficient water from the sea mists to meet the needs of all the inhabitants”David Bramwell