As part of the activities marking the National Afforestation Day, the National Center for Population and Demographic Studies at the University of Baghdad organized a lecture titled “The Importance of Afforestation and Its Impact on the Environment.” The lecture was delivered by Dr. Mona Abdul Nabi Abbas, Chair of the Department of Population and Demographic Studies at the Center, and Lecturer. Susan Rashid Jabeer, Human Resources Officer.
The lecture aimed to highlight the importance of afforestation in reducing air pollution and mitigating heat. It emphasized that trees absorb pollutants and store them in their leaves and branches. Additionally, trees significantly block sunlight, thereby reducing the heat reaching the ground and consequently affecting air temperature.
It is worth noting that trees perform many vital and distinctive biological and environmental functions, such as oxygen production, carbon sequestration, atmospheric purification, and filtering the air we breathe. Trees conserve water, regulate its cycle, prevent soil erosion, and provide habitat for birds and animals, which gives them a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.