A tree is a perennial woody plant.

It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. Trees are an important component of the natural landscape because of their prevention of erosion and the provision of a weathersheltered ecosystem in and under their foliage. Trees are natures air conditioners. In one year the average trees inhales 26 pounds of carbon dioxide and exhale enough oxygen to keep a family of 4 breathing for a year. Now days, trees being threaten by human activities. We should save the trees because it plays an important role in humans life. Trees play a vital role in maintaining an ecological balance and improving the livelihood of people in the arid regions. They are also elements in landscaping and agriculture, both for their aesthetic appeal and their orchard crops (such as apples). Each part of tree being use full for humans. Wood from trees is a building material, as well as a primary energy source in many developing countries. Trees also help cool the Earth. Trees give off moisture. More moisture in the air means more rain and all living things need water. Trees cool the air by shading and through water evaporation. They act like huge pumps to cycle water up from the soil back into the air. The 200,000 leaves on a healthy 100 foot tree can take 11,000 gallons of water from the soil and breathe it into the air in a single growing season. Trees are also very important for us as a renewable resource. Trees are a natural resource that can be renewed - by the planting of trees - replacing the trees that are harvested for use by people. We depend on forest products for things like the wood we burn for heat and the wood we use to make houses and furniture. We use trees for the paper to make books and letters we write. Actually, there are more than 5,000 things

made from trees. Trees give us baseball bats, shoe polish, and even tooth paste that comes from tree extracts. Today, the people and companies that manage our nation's forests recognize that trees are a valuable resource and that it is in the best interest of each of us to conserve them. The idea of sustainable forestry means trying to keep things in balance - when trees are cut down to make paper and other products, new trees are planted or regrow naturally. Forests helps wildlife by providing them food and a home. Trees and forests help us by cleaning our air, soil, and water. Trees also protect the environment against soil erosion, siltation and flooding. Soil erosion causes us to lose valuable agricultural soil to our dams and the sea. Siltation is when soil ends up in our Rivers and dams. This has an in pact on flow rate of the river making it more easy to flood as well as the reduce the capacity off dams. As water move quicker over terrain devoid of Vegetation Rivers tend to flood easier and more severe. So planting trees reduces the flow and therefore the thread of flooding.

Malaysia enjoys one of the highest percentages of forested land among developing countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand (FAO, 2005). Tropical rainforests help assure global environmental balance along with temperate forests, oceans etc. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the worlds forests decrease annually by 12 million hectares. The average annual forest loss in Malaysia during the 1990s was an estimated 237,000 hectares or only 1.2% according to the FAO in a 2005 Report. This loss is largely attributable to planned landuse changes in line with national development policies. We should take some steps to save the trees. TREES" is a concept originally devised for an elementary school audience but serves well as set of principles for saving rainforests and, on a broader scale, ecosystems around the world. Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests. Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down. Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment. Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife. Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment. The Global Trees Campaign, a partnership between Fauna & Flora International, Botanic Gardens Conservation International and many other organisations around the world, aims to save threatened tree species through provision of information, conservation action and support for sustainable use. Other than that, we also must Respect trees and plants and refrain from plucking leaves/ grass/flowers unnecessarily. Do not burn the dried leaves under the trees, instead allow them to mulch. When vehicles/ drive ways are washed, drain the waste water towards a tree / plants nearby. Get vehicles checked for pollution regularly. Break or loosen the concrete around the tree trunks and substitute with garden soil and manure. While constructing driveways, walls in own home, we should remember to keep adequate open space for the trees growing there. We also must remove the advertisements nailed on trees and fill the holes with soil or Broadax mixture powder. When we see a tree or its branches being cut or digging near the trees, we should check whether permission has been taken from the concerned authorities. Whenever we find trees being threatened, we

should inform the school authorities/ residents/ RWAs for action, or form own youth group and take first aid action for trees. There are enough rules and regulations regarding the protection of trees.

THE TREE TALKS

PRIMITIVE AGE I was growing, standing high, with flowers like stars in sky; with fruits which were meant for thy, spreading branches giving a shy, very safe then was I, but soon this era said good bye.

PRESENT AGE On the side of the road, I am standing low, all vehicles giving me the polluted blow; fresh air is less, but smoke is more; broken branches, no fruits I bore, see the consequence, of this torture of yours, less rain, but floods & droughts are more, the death god is standing at your door.

THE FUTURE (The soul of the tree speaks since no trees are left) On the side of the road, I was born, I heard the bustling screeches of horns, but soon I left this earth to mourn, for CO2 levels have greatly increased and decreasing O2 levels warns; now I ask you humans, what did you earn, by killing me and this earth in turn. By Nitin Purwar Christ The King College, Jhansi