Trees help to clean the air we breathe. Through their leaves and bark, they absorb harmful pollutants and release clean oxygen for us to breathe. In urban environments and other ecosystems, trees absorb pollutant gases such as nitrogen oxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide, and sweep up particles such as dust and smoke. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide caused by deforestation and fossil fuel combustion trap heat in the atmosphere.
Planting trees across Asia is helping to restore the habitat of critically endangered species, including orangutans, tigers, and more than 1,700 species of birds. These projects create jobs and provide sustainable, long-term income for communities so people and forests can live harmoniously.