For thousands of years, trees have provided people with foods, fibers, and medicines. Above all, they have provided people with wood. Prehistoric people used wood to make the first spear, the first boat, and the first wheel. Throughout history, people have used wood to make tools, construct buildings, and create works of art. They have also used it for fuel. Living trees are as valuable to humankind as are tree products because they help conserve natural resources.

Wood products. Each year, loggers cut down millions of trees in the world's forests. Logs from these trees are shipped to sawmills and pulp mills. Sawmills cut the logs into lumber, which the building industry uses for many types of construction work. Manufacturers use lumber to make everything from furniture to baseball bats.

Trees in conservation. Trees help conserve soil and water. In open country, trees act as windbreaks and keep the wind from blowing away topsoil. Their roots prevent soil from being washed away by heavy rains. Tree roots also help store water in the ground. In mountain regions, forests prevent sliding snow from causing avalanches. Forests also provide shelter for wildlife and recreation areas for vacationists.

Trees help preserve the balance of gases in the atmosphere. A tree's leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air. They also produce oxygen and release it into the atmosphere. These two processes are necessary for people to live. People could not survive if the air had too much carbon dioxide or too little oxygen.

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