Trees play a huge role in our lives. We learn about trees in Kindergarten, but somehow forget. The importance of trees can be found in our lives each day. We know trees absorb carbon dioxide and replenish the atmosphere with oxygen.

Forest Ecologist (Suzanne Simard) has found that trees do better when they are connected to other trees. They do this with the fungi strands (mycorrhizal fungi) within the soil. These mycorrhizae or stands connect to tree roots and share nutrients. These roots and fungi also share information. Suzanne Simard calls this the “mother tree” or “hub tree.” Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard is a wonderful book. It was recently International Day of Forests and there is an excellent interview with Suzanne Simard that you can find here. We talk about “mother earth” and maybe we somehow recognize a mother relationship with these “mother trees.” The older trees will share nutrients and carbon with the seedlings, which helps them survive in critical times. Mothers do this.

Maybe, we can learn something from nature and from these connections. We are connected to nature. We can support children and those who struggle. Sharing food and resources. A community. Connected and supporting each other. Sounds easy and hard to achieve.

When we consider environmental issues, we also need to consider social and economic aspects. That is central to sustainability. These 3 issues work and influence each other. What we do has an impact elsewhere.

Yeah, and? What about the importance of trees?

What we do has an impact elsewhere. When we throw garbage away, away is elsewhere and the impact will be felt there as well as our home. Within the City of Winnipeg, garbage dumps emit a lot of methane. Even the dump that has been closed for decades still emits methane. We are still dealing with that and will probably continue for a while.

At Prairie Circular Economy, I love big questions and tackling these issues. With you. As a mom, I am often remind of a phrase regularity used by Bob the Builder – “Can we fix it – yes, we can.” Then the theme song plays and I hope dear reader that you are singing it in your head.

These are big challenges. There are so many fabulous people working to solve their piece of the puzzle. We must also remember the bigger picture – the one on the puzzle box. We are all connected and what we do has an impact on ourselves and our neighbours. It is not “us vs. them.” It is us. A global community. This is why we can learn so much from the importance of trees and those tiny mycorrhizal connections between the trees and fungi.

Here at Prairie Circular Economy, I can help you become a leader in your community. Contact us for a free discovery call and we can work together.