Our planet differs greatly from all others for a single reason; the earth can sustain life. This is done in various ways, but most of the work is known to be done by plants. Plants help support life on Earth in many ways and are regarded as a critical resource we can’t live without. From their absorption of carbon dioxide to their provision of oxygen for our daily breaths, their ability to act as a habitat for humans and animals alike, is what makes plants important for the environment. Listed below are a few roles plants play for the environment.
Plants Provide Oxygen
All organisms on the Earth need oxygen to survive. Luckily, all live plants are known to produce all the oxygen we need to fully survive and thrive. In sunlight, all plants can produce oxygen through a process known as photosynthesis. During this process, plants take in the carbon dioxide we exhale and, together with little water from the planet, process both elements into oxygen and sugars. While the plants’ sugars remain for further use, the oxygen is released into the atmosphere as a by-product of photosynthesis. It is then used by humans, animals, and other organisms for respiration and general survival. This is the reason why many home experts advise we include houseplants in our decor ideas. Without plants, photosynthesis won’t be possible, and as such, no oxygen will be produced for us to survive and respire.
Plants Store Carbon
Our world as we know it has changed a great deal since its establishment. The changes are affecting our education, workplace, businesses, and environment in the form of climate change. Climate change exists due to our high reliance and the utilization of fossil fuels, a process that always releases huge amounts of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The higher our carbon footprint in the environment, the more damage is done to the climate via the greenhouse effect. For this reason, many businesses are now turning to sustainable packaging and carbon neutral packaging. This is when all the carbon emissions that come with such packaging methods have been calculated to efficiently eliminate harmful effects on the environment.
The good news is that alongside human efforts to eliminate heavy amounts of carbon in the environment, plants act as great contents to climate change because of their ability to store huge amounts of carbon for use later during their photosynthesis process. The more they store, the less atmospheric carbon we have on the planet, and we experience fewer greenhouse effects.
Plants Provide Food
From the gardenia to hydrangeas, all the healthiest plants act as food for us all, humans and animals alike. This is because they are the primary producers, without which many organisms won’t meet their dietary needs. One might argue that carnivores rely on animals for food. The fact is carnivores feed on animals that feed on plants for survival. These animals are also known as herbivores, and they rely greatly on plants for their dietary needs. Humans and a certain group of animals are known as omnivores because they rely on both plants and animals for their food. Plant-based meals come with many health benefits for mankind, plus they’re great for managing our weight.
Plants Provide Shelter
Plants offer habitation to humans and animals alike, which further increases their importance. Trees and a shrub are usually occupied by birds looking for shelter, while wildlife seeks shelter in plants and trees from their predators. When plants are destroyed and forest ecosystems depleted, it affects the ability of animals to find homes, which contributes greatly to them becoming extinct. Some causes of habitat loss include clear-cutting of forests, fires, and unsustainable logging.
To conclude; our environment and the ecosystems need to be protected at all costs, especially during this time of environmental uncertainty, to ensure that we continue to survive and thrive, enjoying all their health benefits in our world as we know it.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Lifestyle category
Leave a Reply