Ancient Trees

Seeing all the beautiful ancient trees in Beth Moon's Ancient Trees – Portraits of Time, got me thinking about all the benefits of really old trees.

Trees provide many benefits

• Aesthetics – there is something magnificent about a tree that is really old. The gnarled branches, gigantic trunk, heaving roots, even the dead branches all tell the story of a tree. An aged tree can inspire us to persevere and adapt through the ups and downs of life.
• Sequestering carbon – scientists have found that old trees continue to sequester carbon, even as they age. Instead of slowing down, old trees continue to hold more carbon than their youthful counterparts.
• Oxygen production – trees exchange carbon monoxide for carbon dioxide, thus cleansing the air for creatures that breathe oxygen. Old trees continue to exchange oxygen.
• Wildlife habitat – as trees age they develop nooks and niches where wildlife can live, build nests, stash food, and seek shelter. An old tree supports a huge web of life.
• Genetic resilience – surviving trees have good genes. They have resisted disease, drought, infestation, and pestilence. They pass on their good genes as they produce pollen and seeds.
• Soil stabilization – their mature root systems help hold soil in place, preventing erosion. They support underground life as well –  churning and aerating the soil, providing spaces for beneficials to live.
• Real estate values – trees can add value to your property. A well-placed tree can add as much as $15,000 or more per tree. Formulas exist for determining the value of a tree, typically based on its size and health.

Roots of a thousand year old Sitka Spruce tree near Quinault, Washington

Here in the West we tend to cut down trees to clear land to build something new, but at quite a price. Luckily some cities and natures value old trees, and seek to protect them. Some landscapers, such as Thomas Church, even design their landscapes around existing trees.