Why it's important

Plants are the lungs of the Earth, they are the ultimate food source for the majority of living things, they provide shelter for thousands of species, and they provide a number of other services to the world. Just as important than having a lot of plants, is having a lot of different kinds of plants, something referred to as biodiversity. This is important because different plants provide different services to different living things. If we don't eat a plant, something does, or lives on it, or survives on it when it decomposes, everything relies on plants, and many species are very picky about what plants they use.

In addition to providing food, shelter, and oxygen for the world, plants around the world provide a large number of services for us. They improve water quality, pull toxins out of the soil, help protect against soil erosion, nutrient loss, and landslides, and can reduce flooding. They also provide a source for about three quarters of all medications the world relies on.

There's also the major service plants provide in the fight against climate change. Plants sequester carbon as a part of the world's natural carbon cycle. If there is more plant life on the planet, there is less carbon dioxide in the air. We are currently moving in the wrong direction, however. Currently, deforestation accounts for over 18% of the total greenhouse gases emitted around the world, and almost a quarter of the CO2 released, specifically.

Finally, plants are very important from a culture and aesthetic perspective. There have been a number of studies showing that being around plants increases attentiveness and reasoning abilities, as well as overall health. Besides, no parent ever wants to have to answer the question "Daddy, what were forests like?"