The Threat Nonnative Species pose

Plants are all around us. Wether native or invasive, plants are something that each person can relate to wherever they are, whether it’s trees that are endangered in their neighborhood, crops that are threatened on their farm (small or large), or other ways that a habitat for plants and animals is being disrupted or even destroyed.

Invasive vines cut off the trees access to water, food, and nutrients. Slowly, as the vines take over, the tree is not able to filter as much carbon dioxide or produce oxygen. Mature trees can absorb, on average, over 48 pounds of carbon dioxide and release oxygen in exchange in a year. Although planting new trees is beneficial, they must grow for years before they are able to filter the amount of carbon dioxide that mature trees can.

Lastly, with the continual growth of global warming, trees are an essential factor in reducing carbon dioxide globally, yet they continue to be threatened by invasive species.