The Healing
Power of Trees

Why Planting Trees Matters—

For the Earth and For Healing

Planting trees is an act of restoration—both for the earth and for the human heart. Trees heal the land by replenishing the soil, restoring habitats, and supporting clean air and water. But they also offer something deeper: a sense of connection. As roots take hold in the ground, they anchor us to place, to memory, and to one another. Planting in honor of a loved one becomes a living expression of love—one that continues to grow, nourish, and give back. In caring for the land, we care for ourselves. In tending to trees, we tend to grief. And through this simple, powerful act, we begin to heal.

For the Earth: Environmental Impact

  • One mature tree absorbs up to 48 pounds of CO₂ per year. (U.S. Department of Agriculture).

  • Trees lower urban temperatures by up to 10°F, reducing the effects of extreme heat in vulnerable communities. (EPA Urban Heat Island Report)

  • Reforestation could remove 205 gigatons of carbon dioxide if 0.9 billion hectares of forest are restored worldwide. (Science Magazine, 2019)

  • Every $1 invested in tree planting returns up to $5.82 in environmental and public health benefits. (U.S. Forest Service)

For Healing & Human Well-Being: Emotional and Social Benefits

  • Spending time around trees and green spaces can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. (American Psychological Association)

  • Green memorial spaces offer grieving individuals a sense of connection and peace, and promote emotional resilience. (Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2014)

  • Acts of giving and volunteering during grief have been linked to faster emotional recovery and long-term well-being. (Harvard Health Publishing)