A BO UT F RE E T RE E SO CI E T Y

We take seeds, we sprout them, we look after the seedlings, then we giveaway all the plants
for free, simply to encourage a love of nature.

Through this act of growing and giving away plants we encourage other green goals and
objectives.

 Increase greenery
 Educate people on the correct way to plant trees
 Improve awareness of environmental holidays
 Encourage a love of plants and gardening
 Improve environmental awareness
 Introduce and teach sustainable practices
 Keep the public informed about climate change and environmental issues

Giveaway Days
All our planting activities are for giveaway days – we support local homeowners, schools,
community gardens and other societies. Our goal is to share as many plants as we can for
the benefit of the environment. We tend to host giveaways in conjunction with
environmental holidays to make these days more meaningful. The more we plant, the more
we giveaway!

Our Earth-Friendly Nursery

Our environment is at the forefront of our cause and we make a point of ensuring our
activities are as sustainable as possible. We use natural fertilizes and pest repellents, we
harvest rainwater for watering the nursery. and we have composting and vermi-composting
on site.

Free Tree Society Kuala Lumpur has been registered with the Registry of Societies Malaysia
(PPM-010-14-21052012) since 2012.

Past Events

Free Tree Society has given away approximately:

21,116 plants since June 2013

(LAST UPDATED APRIL 2018)

*WE ALSO GIVE AWAY AN AVERAGE OF 10 PLANTS EACH WEEK FROM THE NURSERY –
BENEFITS OF PLANTING TREES
Planting trees in your neighborhood really is one of the best things you can do for the local
environment and for the planet. It’s no secret that trees help the environment, but you may be
surprised by all the benefits that planting trees can provide. Besides producing oxygen and removing
carbon dioxide and contaminants from the air, trees have many other social, economic, and
environmental benefits.

Environmental Benefits of Planting Trees

Trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen.
Additionally, they provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. But that’s not all trees do for us! To
see just how much trees are essential to the planet and to humans, let’s look at the following
statistics:

 CO2 is one of the major contributing elements to the greenhouse effect. Trees trap CO2 from the
atmosphere and make carbohydrates that are used for plant growth. They give us oxygen in
return. According to ColoradoTree.org, about 800 million tons of carbon are stored in the trees
that make up the urban forests of the U.S. This translates to a savings of $22 billion in control
costs. Mature trees can absorb roughly 48 pounds of CO2 a year. The tree in turn releases
enough oxygen to sustain two human beings.
 Trees also help to reduce ozone levels in urban areas. In New York City, a 10 percent increase in
urban canopy translated to a reduction of peak ozone levels by around 4 parts per billion.
(Source: Luley, Christopher J.; Nowak, David J. 2004. Help Clear the Smog with Your Urban Forest:
What You and Your Urban Forest Can Do About Ozone.)
 Trees reduce urban runoff and erosion by storing water and breaking the force of rain as it falls.
The USDA reports that 100 mature trees can reduce runoff caused by rainfall by up to 100,000
gallons!
 Trees also absorb sound and reduce noise pollution. This is especially important for people who
live near freeways. In some cases, a well planted group of trees can reduce noise pollution by up
to 10 decibels. (Source: New Jersey Forest Service.)
 Additionally, trees shade asphalt and trees, reducing what is know as the “Heat Island” effect.
The EPA has some great information on how planting trees and other vegetation can help to
reduce the urban heat island effect. Trees can shade hard surface areas such as driveways,
patios, building and sidewalks thus minimizing landscape heat load – a build up of heat during the
day that is radiated at night resulting in warmer temperatures. Ideally, 50 percent of the total
paved surface should be shaded.
 Trees can reduce air temperature by blocking sunlight. Further cooling occurs when water
evaporates from the leaf surface. The conversion of water to air vapor --- a chemical process ---
removes heat energy from the air.
 A tree can be a natural air conditioner. The evaporation from a single tree can produce the
cooling effect of 10 room size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.
 You can improve the efficiency of your heat pump by shading it with a tree.
 Deciduous trees block sunlight in the summer but allow sunlight to reach and warm your home
in the winter ---- place deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home.
 Evergreen trees can be used to reduce wind speed and thus loss of heat from your home in the
winter by as much as 10 to 50 percent.
 Trees absorb and block noise and reduce glare. A well placed tree can reduce noise by as much
as 40 percent.
 Fallen tree leaves can reduce soil temperature and soil moisture loss. Decaying leaves promote
soil microorganism and provide nutrients for tree growth.
 Trees help settle out and trap dust, pollen and smoke from the air. The dust level in the air can
be as much as 75 percent lower on the sheltered side of the tree compared to the windward
side.
 Trees create an ecosystem to provide habitat and food for birds and other animals.
 Trees absorb carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gasses, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon
monoxide, from the air and release oxygen. An acre of trees absorb enough carbon dioxide in a
year to equal the amount produced when you drive a car 26,000 miles.
o One large tree can supply a day's supply of oxygen for four people.
o A healthy tree can store 13 pounds of carbon each year ----for an acre of trees that equals
to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide.
o Each gallon of gasoline burned produces almost 20 pounds of carbon dioxide.
o For every 10,000 miles you drive, it takes 7 trees to remove the amount of carbon dioxide
produce if your car gets 40 miles per gallon (mpg); it will take 10 trees at 30 mpg; 15 trees
at 20 mpg; 20 trees at 15 mpg; and 25 trees at 12 mpg)
 Trees help reduce surface water runoff from storms, thus decreasing soil erosion and the
accumulation of sediments in streams. They increase ground water recharge and reduce the
number of potentially harmful chemicals transported to our streams.
 Trees cool the air, land and water with shade and moisture thus reduce the heat-island effect of
our urban communities. The temperature in urban areas is often 9 degrees warmer than in areas
with heavy tree cover.
 Trees can help offset the buildup of carbon dioxide in the air and reduce the " greenhouse
effect."
 Trees create microclimates suitable for growing shade loving plants.
 The American Forestry Association estimates that 100 million new trees would absorb 18 million
tons of carbon dioxide and cut US air conditioning costs by $4 billion annually.
 Dews and frosts are less under tree because less radiant heat is lost at night.

How Trees Help to Save Energy

Planting trees can also help cool your home in the summer. The Arbor Day Foundation states that
the overall effect of the shade created by planting a healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air
conditioners running 20 hours a day!
In the winter, trees can act as windbreaks for your home and will help you save on heating costs. The
Journal of Horticulture claims that saving on heating costs can reach as much as 25 percent!

Trees shade buildings, streets, and homes. If enough trees are planted in cities, the overall
microclimate improves and total energy use for heating and cooling is reduced. The EPA has some
great information on how planting trees and other vegetation can help to reduce the overall high
temperature of your city!

Health Benefits of Nature

Just being around trees makes you feel good. Can you imagine your community without trees?
Trees, especially in urban areas, have numerous social benefits. For example, the addition of trees to
a neighborhood or a business district can greatly improve the mental and physical health of
residents and workers. In fact, the University of Cambridge did a study on job satisfaction of
employees of business with a view of trees from their office. They found that these employees
suffered from fewer diseases than workers without a view of trees. See here for more information
on the study.
Another example is with children with learning disorders. As a form of therapy, children that suffer
from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can benefit from the presence of trees and
other greenery. Kids with ADHD have been proven to be calmer, more responsive, and better able to
concentrate when in a space with lots of trees.

(Source: Taylor, A.F.; Kuo, F.; Sullivan,W. 2001. Coping with ADD: The Surprising Connection to Green
Play Settings. Environment and Behavior)

Trees and their Benefits for Neighborhoods

Additionally, have you considered that planting a tree can significantly increase your property
values? As an example, the U.S. Tax Court recently calculated a value of 9 percent ($15,000) for the
removal of a large black oak on a piece of property valued at $164,500. (Source: Neely, D., ed. 1988.
Valuation of Landscape Trees, Shrubs, and Other Plants.)

Houses with trees are also more attractive to visitors, potential buyers, and neighbors.
Neighborhoods with lots of trees also report less crime! (Source: Kuo, F.; Sullivan,W. 2001.
Environment and Crime in the Inner City: Does Vegetation Reduce Crime? Environment and Behavior
33(3).) There is no doubt that if you plant trees in your community, people will see and feel the
difference.

As you can see, it's clear that trees are essential to our life on the planet. The great thing is that we
as humans can play an active role in planting trees to help offset deforestation and urbanization. Not
only can you plant trees in your yard, you can also get involved in local tree planting activities on
Arbor Day.
If you need more reasons to plant trees, the United States Department of Agriculture has a complete
list of statistics regarding the environmental, economic, and social benefits of planting trees. Some
of the statistics from this article are included in the PDF file referenced above, as well as many
others.

 Trees are the least expensive plants you can add to your landscape when you consider the
impact they create due to their size.
 A tree can add music to your life by attracting birds and other animals.
 A tree can provide pleasant smells. A cherry tree can perfume the air with 200,000 flowers.
 Hospital patients have been shown to recover from surgery more quickly when their hospital
room offered a view of trees. They also had fewer complaints, less pain killers and left the
hospital sooner.
 Most of us respond to the presence of trees beyond simply observing their beauty. We feel
serene, peaceful, restful and tranquil in a grove of trees. We are "at home" there.
 Trees provide us with color, flowers, fruit, interesting shapes and forms to look at.
 Trees can screen unattractive views, soften the sometimes harsh outline of masonry, metal,
asphalt, steel, and glass.
 Trees can seperate and define space thus providing a sense of privacy, solitude and security, and
create a feeling of relaxation and well being.
 Trees can serve as a living legacy for the next generation - thus linking us to near and distant
generations
 Lowered electricity bills are paid by customers when power companies build fewer new facilities
to meet peak demands, use reduced amounts of fossil fuel in their furnaces and need fewer
measures to control air pollution.
 Trees can help direct pedestrian traffic, provide background and thus enhance the appearance
of other landscape plants and our homes.
 Trees help people reflect positively on life' changes.
 Trees have been reported as having a relaxing effect on students studying for exams.
 Studies have documented that urban vegetation can result in slower heartbeats, lower blood
pressure and more relaxed brain wave patterns.
 Sound waves are absorbed by tree leaves and branches. A belt of trees 100 feet wide and 45 feet
high can reduce highway noise by 50 percent. Prolonged exposure to noise can cause
hypertension, higher cholesterol levels, irritability and aggressive behavior.

Community Benefits

 Trees can create lasting impression on how a community is perceived by visitors and affect the
mood and community pride of its residents.
 Trees can enhance community economic stability by attracting businesses and tourists -----
people linger and shop longer when trees are present.
 Apartments and offices in wooded areas rent quicker and have a higher occupancy rate ---
workers in offices in wooded areas report more productivity and less absenteeism.
 Property values of landscaped homes are 5 to 15% higher than those of non-landscaped homes
and homes are quicker to resell than homes without trees.
 Trees increase the humidity in the air, help increase ground water recharge, reduce soil erosion
and storm water run-off thus reducing the amount of water we consume and the need for new
water treatment plant and storm water structures. A study in Salt Lake City revealed the tree
canopy reduced surface runoff by 11.3 million gallons following a 1 inch rain.
 The feeling of community pride created by trees can help reduce crime.
 By reducing heating and cooling cost, trees can reduce our dependance on oil and natural gas.
 By absorbing and deflecting falling rain, trees can reduce the severity of floods.
 By reducing carbon dioxide, dust and other potentially harm gasses in the air, our air quality is
improved through lower levels of ozone, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
 Trees make communities livable for people and their activities. People walk and jog more on
streets with trees; children and adults have a cool place to play or relax in the summer, thus
increasing their interaction with neighbors.