Summary

The web content discusses the significance and miraculous nature of trees, emphasizing their role in the environment, their longevity, and the need to protect them.

Abstract

The article "Wonders of Nature" reflects on the author's personal appreciation of nature's miracles, focusing on trees as Earth's natural marvels. It highlights the essential functions trees perform, such as providing oxygen, food, shelter, and regulating water flow and weather patterns. The author underscores the importance of trees in human and wildlife survival, their role in carbon dioxide processing, and their status as the longest-living organisms on the planet. Notable examples include the Ginkgo biloba, the Methuselah bristlecone pine, and the Hyperion coast redwood. The piece also addresses the need for conservation of these ancient and veteran trees, citing the extensive number of ancient trees in Britain and the oldest, the Fortingall Yew. The author concludes by urging us to care for trees as they care for us.

Opinions

The author believes in the miraculous nature of trees, equating their life-sustaining functions to miracles.
The author respects the longevity of trees, especially the Ginkgo biloba, which is described as a living link to the age of dinosaurs.
There is an opinion that the oldest living tree, Methuselah, a bristlecone pine, holds a significant honor, despite claims of a Patagonian cypress being older.
The author expresses a sense of wonder at the tallest tree, Hyperion, and its majestic height.
The author suggests that Britain's ancient trees are not fully documented, indicating a potential underestimation of their number.
A call to action is conveyed, emphasizing the necessity of protecting and looking after trees due to their invaluable contributions to the environment and human life.

TREES / ENVIRONMENT

Wonders of Nature

Trees are Earth’s natural marvels unless one does not believe in miracles

**Ginkgo biloba**, also known as maidenhair tree, is the oldest surviving tree species. The species have been around for 200 million years, a living link to the age of dinosaurs. (Photo by HeungSoon from Pixabay)

Not so long ago, I shared on social media my awe and wonderment at the beauty of nature.

My post was accompanied by a close-up photo of a rosebud in my garden. How could one not believe, I said, in miracles?

Surprisingly, a netizen (actually a kin) promptly posted a response. Miracles do not exist, he said.

I knew that, that’s what he believed in based on the teachings of his religion, e.g. the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.

I clarified that I was referring to the beauty of a flower as I watched it bloom from a bud. It is a miracle for me, a gift to us by nature.

Whether cultivated in gardens or had popped up along with other wildflowers, or had sprung in roadside weeds, I feel the joy brought to my senses from all these beauties.

Looking back, however, I should have mentioned nature’s spectacular marvel — a miracle that no-one can dispute.

A miracle in which we, humans, depend on for existence.

You’re right, I’m referring to trees.

Where would we be if not for these marvels of nature?

Would we, as humans, develop without the provisions derived from trees? Food, fuel, shelter, medicines, timber, among others.

And what about the role played by trees in giving food and shelter to wildlife?

Or, what about the forests of trees? They help regulate the water flow, thereby reducing the effects of flooding and soil erosion.

Lest we forget, trees have an impact on weather patterns, too, in that they increase humidity and generate rainfall.

And if not for these marvels of nature, how would we — humans and animals alike — survive if not for the trees that process vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere?

Trees absorb it through their leaves, emit the processed CO2 as oxygen, which we all breathe in.

It was noted by the US Department of Agriculture that a large tree, such as the above, can supply four people a day’s supply of oxygen. How awesome is that? (Photo of a life-giving tree by the author)

Of course, like all other plants including our house plants, trees also store CO2 in their fibers whereby they help clean the air, reducing the negative effects on our environment.

If the roles played by trees as mentioned above would not qualify as miracles, then I’ve no idea what could.

Trees live longer than any other organism on earth

While on the subject of nature’s miracles, do you know that trees, aside from being one of the longest living forms of plant life, also live longer than any other organism on the planet?

To note, the oldest surviving species of tree that are still grown in gardens is the Ginkgo biloba, which made its way from China to other parts of Asia and around the world.

It is a living fossil, as described by Peter Crane, dean of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, in an article in The New York Times.

Ginkgo biloba, also known as maidenhair tree in Britain, has been around for 200 million years.

Crane has also referred to this tree as the living link to the age of dinosaurs.

A marvel, really, in my book.

Check these other interesting facts about trees

The oldest documented surviving tree is the Methuselah, a bristlecone pine, which is 4,850 years old. It is located in the White Mountains in California.
Researchers from Chile, however, claimed in May (2022) that a Patagonian cypress, a South American conifer, is 5,400 years old.
While Patagonian cypresses rank in the world as the second longest-lived tree species, scientists and experts appear to be reserving their judgement.
Until then, Methuselah, the bristlecone, still holds the honor of being the oldest living tree in the world.
The tallest living tree in the world is called the Hyperion, a coast redwood. It is 115.72m (379.7 feet) tall, and is located in a remote part of Redwood National Park in California.
Britain is thought to have the most number of ancient trees in Europe. Woodland Trust — UK stated in its website that 180,000 ancient trees have been listed, but thousands more need to be added.
Meanwhile, a new study on ancient and veteran trees in England by the University of Nottingham showed that the number is estimated to be around 1.7 to 2.1 million, compared with the current number on record.
The oldest tree in the UK is believed to be the Fortingall Yew located in Perthshire. Its estimated age is between 2,000 and 3,000 years.
Oaks and sweet chestnuts can live for more than 1,000 years, although the yew is the longest living tree species in Britain.

Without a doubt, trees absolutely deserve to be referred to as miracles gifted to us by nature.

Let’s look after them as they look after us.