Every year on 22 March, the world celebrates World Water Day, a global event organized and recognized by the United Nations.

This special day highlights the importance of freshwater and the need to manage this precious resource sustainably. We can also refer to water as “the blue gold,” as previously described by one of our coordinators in India, Dipen Mehta.

World Water Day raises awareness about the global water crisis and supports the goal of ensuring clean water and sanitation for everyone. See, water is essential for life. Humans need it to drink, grow food, and stay healthy. But water is also essential for nature, especially for trees and forests. Without water, trees cannot grow. At the same time, without trees, the natural water cycle becomes weaker. In many ways, water and trees depend on each other.

Our friend Mark Allaway from Australia, spraying the plants with the “blue gold.”

As we just mentioned, trees need water to survive and grow. Water travels from the soil into the tree’s roots and moves upward through the trunk to the leaves. This water helps the tree produce food through photosynthesis and keeps the plant healthy. When there is not enough water in the soil, trees cannot grow properly, and in extreme drought, trees may become weak or die. This shows how important water is for forests and for the many plants that make up natural ecosystems.

Water also carries nutrients from the soil to the tree. These nutrients help trees develop strong roots, leaves, and branches. Healthy trees are able to support wildlife, store carbon, and provide shade and cooling for the environment. In some areas of the world, water is really, really scarce. One example of such a place is the Sahara Desert.

In the past, our tree-planting friend in Mauritania, Dah Ebbe, showed us how desertification can take over villages and livelihoods when there are no trees and water.

Men in Mauritania, trying to collect underground water in the Sahara Desert.

Trees do more than simply “use” water; they also help control how water moves through nature. Therefore, forests play a key role in the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water between the land, air, and oceans.

Trees absorb water from the ground and release it into the atmosphere through their leaves in a process called transpiration. This moisture helps form clouds and can lead to rainfall. Some large forests release enormous amounts of water vapor into the air every day, helping to maintain rainfall patterns in nearby and even distant regions.

*An illustration explaining transpiration.

Forests also help store and protect water in the soil. Tree roots hold the soil together, which reduces erosion and allows rainwater to slowly soak into the ground instead of running off quickly. This process helps refill groundwater and maintain stable river flows. In addition, forests act as natural water filters. As water passes through forest soil, it is cleaned before entering streams, lakes, and groundwater supplies.

Considering all of this, we realize that healthy forests are invaluable for life on our one common home: Earth. Studies show that forested watersheds supply a large share of the world’s accessible freshwater. In fact, many major cities rely on water that comes from forested areas.

Thus, when forests are destroyed, the water cycle will most likely be disrupted. Deforestation may lead to reduced rainfall, increased flooding, and water shortages. And accordingly, without trees, landscapes can become drier and less able to support plants, animals, and people.

A photo of a village in the Sahara Desert, where water is very scarce, and trees grow with difficulty

World Water Day reminds us that protecting water also means protecting nature. Water supports trees, and trees help protect water. When we plant and protect forests, we help strengthen the natural systems that provide clean water for communities and ecosystems.

Organizations, communities, and individuals all have a role to play. Planting trees, growing forests, and using water responsibly are important steps toward a healthier planet. Therefore, we encourage our global community to #PlantGrowSave!

Every tree planted helps restore the balance between water and nature. Remember, no water = no trees.

If this article motivated you to plant a tree, please remember to tell us about it! Fill out this form on our website, and remember to include many photos. We look forward to hearing from you and to seeing and hearing how you celebrated World Water Day!

Looking for more resources related to water? Have a look at our Education section!

_______

*Image source: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/evapotranspiration-sum-plant-transpiration-and-evaporation
Feature image source: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/nahaufnahme-fotografie-des-gewassers-1439227/