May the forest be with you during COVID-19 and beyond

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the nation, our healthcare workers, first responders and essential workers are heroically keeping the nation afloat. But there’s one underlying constant, or force, if you will, that touches and protects us all. It’s the unsung hero: the forest.

Trees and forests are the foundation of many essential, everyday items, a key to our health and quality of life and a backbone to our economy and workforce. And Texas has Texas A&M Forest Service, a state agency committed to the protection, conservation and restoration of this important natural resource.

Essential products

“The forest products industry supplies basic necessities ranging from diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, paper cups and plates to panels, lumber, transmission poles, pallets and packaging used to transport over 90% of all goods, foods and medical supplies so desperately needed during these critical times,” said Rob Hughes, Executive Director of Texas Forestry Association.

Labelled an essential industry, forestry provides the diaper that clothes the newborn at home, the sustainable packaging for your food, the box that contains an item ordered by a vulnerable person at home so that they don’t risk exposure.

“Sometimes we take the essentials the forests and the forestry industry provide for granted,” said Tom Boggus, Texas State Forester and Director of Texas A&M Forest Service. “But we all felt its stark absence when the shelves were empty of toilet paper.”

Beyond the everyday items, forestry also provides the framework of protection for those on the front lines as masks and other personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and first responders.

Economic impact

“In turbulent markets, long-term forestland investments are less cyclical than stocks and bonds because they serve a diversified set of industries,” said Aaron Stottlemeyer, Texas A&M Forest Service Forest Resource Analyst.

Including direct, indirect, and induced impacts, the forest sector had a total economic impact of $36.7 billion in industry output, according to Texas A&M Forest Service’s 2019 Texas Economic Impact Report.

Every dollar generated in the sector contributed an additional 94 cents to the rest of the state economy.

The forest sector also supported more than 168,190 jobs; every job created in the sector resulted in another 1.49 jobs in the state ⎯ many of which are labeled as essential infrastructure workers by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Life-sustaining benefits

“Texas forests also benefit society simply by existing; they provide many life-sustaining benefits, or ecosystem services,” said Hughes Simpson, Texas A&M Forest Service’s Forest Systems Department Head.

“This includes regulating the climate, purifying drinking water supplies, filtering air pollutants, providing habitat for wildlife, and opportunities to recreate for millions of Texans. Collectively, these services are valued at almost $93 billion annually.”

While isolation and social distancing decrease our susceptibility to Coronavirus exposure, they may also increase stress and anxiety. One way to relieve stress, while still practicing safe social distancing, is to get out among the trees and forests.

Research shows exposure to forests decreases mental fatigue by relaxing and restoring one’s mind as well as providing a sense of security.

“This connection between trees and people is intricate, yet powerful,” said Gretchen Riley, Texas A&M Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator. “Being around trees and forests helps our minds find rest while encouraging physical engagement, all while subtly purifying the environment.”

Forests help us heal

The forests will continue to be with us as we heal. Trees filter pollution out of the air that we breathe, decreasing the risk of common respiratory illnesses. And patients with views of trees recover faster than patients without a view of trees.

“The love of the forests is not new for most of us. In many cases, forests are the foundation of the sense of place we call home. Beyond pretty and place, knowing they actually make us feel better and be better, makes trees and forests especially cherished these days,” said Riley. “Caring for trees and forests has never been more important because they also care for us. Healthy trees make healthy lives.”

These benefits can be found not only in a forest far, far away. No matter where you are, the forest is with you—through COVID-19 and beyond.

For more information about the link between health and trees, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/healthytreeshealthylives/.

Contacts:

Texas A&M Forest Service Communications Office, 979-458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu

About Texas A&M Forest Service:

Texas A&M Forest Service conserves and protects the resources and lands of the Lone Star State. Conserving Texas’ trees and forests, the state agency helps property owners maintain land and natural resources to ensure forestlands remain productive and healthy not only for the environment, but for generations of Texans to come. Texas A&M Forest Service is one of the lead agencies for incident management in the state. From the initial response to ongoing recovery, the agency strives to protect Texas from wildfire and other types of disasters. TFS does this by not only fighting wildfire and responding to incidents, but also by building capacity and increasing public awareness about community protection and wildfire prevention.