Have you ever thought about how our world is so beautiful? If this thought had ever crossed your mind, then you might not know, but the answer would be right in front of you. We are blessed with a beautiful world because of Mother Nature. All the plants we see around us are nature’s gift, and we should be thankful for them in every possible way. According to research studies, we currently have about three to four lakh identified plant species, which is still increasing.
These plants are not just a beauty to behold but beneficial for us in so many ways you might not even know about. From helping fulfill our daily food requirements to giving us oxygen to breathe and giving us clothes to wear, plants and trees are a huge part of human life, and we are entirely dependent on them.
However, as the world moves forward with new technological advancements, we do not discuss how this development is exploiting our nature. This is why it has become necessary to talk about plant care and how plants are so useful to us that we stop taking them for granted. If you are interested in this, then you have landed at the right place. In this blog, we will dig deeper into the importance of plants and how we should make our future generation realize their importance.
Table of Contents
Importance of Plants in the Lives of Human
You might not know, but so many plants around us are helpful in our daily lives. As you all know, a single plant comprises roots, leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Each of these parts benefits humans in a myriad of ways. Plants and trees are probably more intelligent than we think, yet we exploit them, not knowing their essential role in our lives. Let’s discuss in detail how plants and trees are helpful to us.
Plants Are Our Oxygen Providers
Photosynthesis: The Breath of Life
Plants play a crucial role in producing oxygen, which is vital for the existence of many living beings. They take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen through photosynthesis. Information from NASA shows that about 70% of the oxygen in the air comes from ocean plants, such as tiny floating plants called phytoplankton, and land plants provide the remaining 30%.
Mitigating Climate Change
Besides producing oxygen, plants are crucial in fighting climate change. They take in CO2, an essential greenhouse gas that helps lower atmospheric levels. The World Resources Institute reports that forests absorb approximately 2.4 billion metric tons of CO2 annually, highlighting plants’ essential role in addressing global warming.
Plants As the Food Source
Nutritional Value
Plants are the cornerstone of the food chain, supplying essential nourishment to humans and animals. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that around 80% of our food comes from plants. Staples like rice, wheat, and corn are high in carbohydrates, which are crucial for energy. Moreover, fruits and vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health. Even the meat and dairy products seen in the market originate from plants. Do you remember the food chain process?
Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable farming methods focus on the role of plants in keeping the soil healthy and ensuring there is enough food for everyone. Using different crops in sequence, planting cover crops, and combining trees with crops improve the soil’s richness and the variety of life it supports. The United Nations believes that if we use sustainable farming, we could grow up to 58% more food. This shows how vital plant-based methods are for feeding more people worldwide.
The Medicinal Treasure Comes from Plants
Traditional Medicine
For thousands of years, plants have played a crucial role in medicine. Traditional practices such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine often utilize plant remedies. A notable example is the bark of the willow tree, which has been used for centuries to reduce pain and fever, ultimately contributing to the creation of aspirin. You might have also heard of penicillin. It is the first antibiotic from a type of mold called penicillin. In short, there are not one or two but many medicines that have originated from plants.
Modern Pharmaceuticals
Current medical practices still gain advantages from the healing abilities of plants. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 25% of today’s medicines come from plants. Some well-known examples are quinine, which is used to fight malaria, and paclitaxel, a drug that helps fight cancer and is taken from the Pacific yew tree. There is still a lot of potential to find new medicines from plants, as only a tiny part of the world’s plant species has been looked at for their healing abilities.
Plants For Mindfulness
While all these reasons mentioned above about the importance of plants were quite prominent, there’s one less popular or hidden benefit of plants. We are talking about the importance of plants for mindfulness. Yes, you may have heard about nature healing and therapies. Have you ever walked out in the garden and felt better? That’s because plants can improve your mood and positively affect your mental health. This is also one of the reasons why many people find comfort in gardening, as it helps them escape from the complicated world. So, never underestimate the power of plants and how they can help you improve your well-being!
Conservation and Sustainable Practices for Plants & Trees
The importance of conserving plant diversity and adopting sustainable practices cannot be overstated. With the increasing threat of climate change and habitat destruction, protecting plant species and their habitats is crucial.
Threats to Plant Diversity
Using eco-friendly farming practices can help safeguard nature and protect plants. Techniques such as rotating crops annually, avoiding chemical use in agriculture, and planting trees in fields can improve soil quality, reduce harmful chemical use, and support a variety of plants and animals. Individuals can contribute by growing gardens with native plants, creating compost, and conserving water.
Sustainable Agriculture and Gardening
Using farming methods that are good for the environment can help protect nature and keep plants safe. Methods like changing crops each season, not using chemicals in farming, and having trees in fields can improve the soil, use fewer harmful chemicals, and support many different types of plants and animals. People can also help by having gardens that use plants from the local area, making their own compost, and saving water.
Conclusion: Embrace the Green
In Conclusion, we can say that plants are a vital part of our life. They are no less than a lifeline for human survival and well-being. Plants do it all, from providing us with the necessary nutrients by being our food to supporting the environment and contributing to the economy. It’s high time we realized their importance and made our future generation aware of it.
Pragyanam School, one of the best CBSE schools in Gurgaon, teaches students the importance of plants in our lives by integrating hands-on gardening activities and environmental science lessons that highlight how plants sustain life, improve air quality, and contribute to our well-being.
Recognizing their importance and taking steps to conserve and cultivate plants is crucial for a sustainable future. Schools and educational institutions should take this subject seriously as they can help along with parents to make our upcoming generation careful about plant care.
