Fall season is here and the trees are changing. The beautiful colors are reminders of what that tree has done for us throughout the warmer months, when their leaves were green… provide oxygen! Through photosynthesis, trees remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and produce oxygen (O2) as an off-gas.
That’s great news for us, since…well…we need oxygen to survive.
It’s also great news for the climate as these trees are doing a wonderful job of sequestering the CO2 that is causing climate change.
According to the Illinois Natural Defense Council, “One 30” maple sequesters 1,452 pound. An average tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year. Two mature trees can provide enough oxygen for a family of four. An acre of trees also produces enough oxygen for 18 people to breathe for a year.”
Good thing Moraine Valley Community College takes its tree canopy seriously. For the past 7 years, the College has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a TreeCampusUSA. TreeCampusUSA designation informs the community that the College has a robust plan and budget for managing the care and growth of its tree canopy.
