Life Insurance and Trees – What’s the Connection?

On Monday March 21, 2022 NobleOak is celebrating the International Day of Forests.

Why? Because we all know trees are good for the planet.

Not only do forests act as the ‘lungs of the earth’ by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere, trees provide shelter and food for animals, birds and insects and other plant life. They play a crucial role in cleaning and cooling the air, reducing erosion caused by wind and water, recycling nutrients for agriculture and are an important part of the rain making cycle. Many species are also the source of medicines to help cure what ails us.

However, according to the United Nations, the world is losing 10 million hectares of forest each year – about the size of Iceland.

At NobleOak we have a special affinity with trees through our history and links to an ancient Druid past.

Druids were active from around 1000 BC and their rituals took place in oak forests where both the oak tree and mistletoe were held sacred. The oak represented durability, purity and constancy.

In 2022, the Druid’s appreciation of the oak tree lives on in our company name and logo.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Carbon Neutral and support their Plant-a-Tree conservation program. Their Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor is a large-scale re-vegetation project designed to reconnect habitats along a 200km corridor in WA from inland to the coast and restore the natural landscape by planting different types of native trees and shrubs.

Not only are trees an indispensable part of the ecosystem, some species are also the oldest living organisms on earth connecting the past, present and future. In fact, oak trees can live up to 300 years or longer.

Planting more trees is one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon in the atmosphere with some trees able to absorb up to 22 kilos of carbon a year and produce enough oxygen to support up to four people.

And let’s not forget the health benefits of ‘forests bathing’ a favourite pastime in Japan. According to some studies, health benefits include ‘lower heart rate, reduced stress and an overall feelings of well-being.’

Find out more about the International Day of Forests a designated day observed by the United Nations Forum of Forests to encourage sustainable production and management of the world’s forests.

Resources:

https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/green-science/deforestation_and_global_warming/

https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2016/lungs-of-the-earth/index.html