Objects That Symbolize Benefits to Human, Wildlife, and the Planet

Small cereal box (or other food container): Trees provide food for wildlife and humans

Fan: Trees cool the air

Umbrella: Trees provide shade from the sun

Coffee filter: Tree roots filter out pollutants from rain and runoff

Aspirin: Tree roots, bark, and berries provide medicine (for example, the bark of the willow tree was the origin of aspirin)

Painting: Trees offer many humans four-season beauty

Jungle gym: Trees offer all kinds of opportunities for play and exercise

House: Trees shelter birds, insects, mammals and other organisms

There are many other examples, of course—be creative and add your own examples to this list!

Background: Benefits of Trees

Among the many benefits that trees provide are clean air, clean water, shade and cooling (to other plants, wildlife, and humans), soil stabilization and flood protection (roots hold soil, which holds water), shelter to animals (including humans), food to wildlife and humans (nuts, seed, fruits, berries), medicine, raw materials (wood, paper), health, beauty, play, joy.