The Canopy Project
Appreciating the Forests for the Trees
March 21, 2025
Forests are among the Earth’s greatest natural treasures. Known as “the lungs of the Earth,” they absorb carbon dioxide, provide clean oxygen, and regulate the water cycle.
But forests offer far more than fresh air and water, they are essential to global food security, biodiversity, and even medicine. With over 60,000 tree species worldwide, nearly one-fifth are directly used by humans for food, fuel, timber, and horticulture. More than 5 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods and 25% of modern life-saving medicines are derived from rainforest plants such as muscle relaxants used in surgery, and chemotherapy drugs used to treat various types of cancers.
Forests are also intelligent, interconnected communities. Through underground fungal networks, often referred to as the Wood Wide Web, trees exchange water, carbon, and nutrients in a process called mycorrhizal, nurturing saplings and ensuring ecosystem survival. They can even warn each other of threats, helping forests recover from disasters while maintaining a steady supply of edible plants, fruits, nuts and fungi.
Recognized as one of the most effective nature-based climate solutions, forest conservation is vital in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In celebration of International Day of Forests 2025 and its theme, Forests and Food, let’s explore five extraordinary trees that have shaped human history and continue to provide for us today.
Coniferous Tree: “Dinosaur Tree”
Thought to be extinct for millions of years, the Wollemi Pine, also known as the “Dinosaur Tree”, is one of the world’s rarest and oldest trees. Rediscovered in the 1990s in an Australian rainforest, its survival is a powerful reminder of the resilience of trees and how forests preserve biodiversity and food sources.
Fossil records show that these trees were living alongside dinosaurs 200 million years ago. This highly resilient conifer has elevated botanical research helping scientists understand plant evolution, tree longevity, genetics, and environmental adaptability.
Deciduous Tree: Ginkgo Biloba Tree
Like the Dinosaur Tree, the Ginkgo biloba was also once believed to be extinct. This ancient tree species dates back over 200 million years and is the sole survivor of an otherwise vanished plant lineage.
Often praised for its medicinal properties, Ginkgo is also an urban powerhouse. Its hardy nature allows it to withstand air pollution, salt, snow, wind, hail, drought, heat, insects, disease, and even radiation. Not only is it fun to say, the glistening gold fan-like leaves are sure to take your breath away during the autumn season.
Beyond their beauty, Gingko trees help filter air pollution, provide shade, and cool down urban heat islands. Their ability to thrive in harsh conditions ensures they will continue to be a living link to the past and guardian of the future.
Fruit Tree: The Fig Tree-Ancient Fruit
The fig tree (Ficus carica) has a history as rich as its fruit. Dating back over 11,000 years to Mesopotamia, figs were one of the first plants cultivated by humans, before wheat and barley, and were even used as the earliest known sweetener. These unique and adaptable fruit trees have evolved into more than 850 species, providing year-round, nutrient-rich fruit to countless birds, mammals and insects. A keystone species, figs support entire ecosystems.
Their ability to attract seed-dispersing animals accelerates natural forest recovery, making them essential for reforestation projects.
Medicinal Tree: The White Willow (Salix Alba)
For thousands of years, the willow tree (salix alba) has been nature’s answer to pain relief and healing. Ancient civilizations, from the Sumerians (3500-2000 BCE) to the Babylonians and Egyptians (1300 BCE), recorded its medical uses. The Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest known medical texts, describes how willow leaves were used to reduce inflammation and treat wounds. Ancient Greek, Chinese, and Roman physicians also relied on willow bark for its fever-reducing properties.
The active compound, salicin, was later synthesized by 19th century scientists and became the foundation for modern aspirin. The white willow also plays a vital role in wetland restoration by stabilizing riverbanks, preventing soil erosion, filtering water pollutants, and reducing flood risks.
Mangrove Tree: Red Mangrove
The red mangrove is a salt-tolerant evergreen tree that thrives in tropical coastal regions. Their striking tangled root systems rise above the water like stilts, earning them the nickname “walking trees”. These ancient survivors have evolved a rare reproductive strategy called viviparity, where seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree.
Once mature, the seedlings, known as propagules, drop into the water, floating for weeks or even years before finding a place to root. Also a keystone species, red mangroves serve as underwater nurseries for marine life, protect shorelines from erosion, stabilize soil, and act as a natural buffer against coastal storms.
Every single tree is part of an epic living network that benefits wildlife, but all human beings too. They have been part of the human story from the very beginning and we rely on them for our very survival. Preserving our trees and forests ensures that future generations will continue to benefit from their life-sustaining resources.
Want to be a part of tree history?
Celebrate International Day of Forests 2025 by supporting reforestation efforts. Donate to EARTHDAY.ORG’s campaign, The Canopy Project and help restore forests around the world. Your donations to The Canopy Project help safeguard forests that sustain life, providing nutritious food, essential medicines, storm protection, shelter, and vital habitats for wildlife, ensuring a healthier future for people and planet.
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