In the days immediately after Hurricane Beryl sideswiped southern Jamaica, a common sight was of work crews and individuals, armed with cutting tools, removing fallen trees and broken branches.

That’s always the case after a storm packing strong winds passes.

Inevitably, at times like these, there are animated discussions, especially in rural Jamaica, about which trees withstand hurricane winds best.

The good, old mango, for example, hundreds of years old in some cases, very rarely topples over even while branches and leaves are ripped away.

Coconut trees are famous for bending before the wind never to straighten again it seems, only to do exactly that when the wind has passed. Sometimes, so strong is the force, they too give way.

And there are some tree species which will almost inevitably fall and/or be torn to bits in a wind event strong enough, as was the case of Beryl.

As they painstakingly cleared trunks and branches from roads and property after Beryl it would have been easy for many people to simply dismiss trees as being dangerous or, at best, pure nuisance.

This is why the post-Beryl appeal by CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) Ms Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie urging citizens not to completely cut down or “massacre” trees in their clean-up process is so important.

In fact, it is imperative — as much as is possible and feasible — to replant trees following destructive storms.

As explained by Ms Rodriguez-Moodie: “Trees play an important role in keeping the environment cool, and many other things in terms of purifying the air. Oftentimes, after these kind of events [storms], you kind of think that they are so destructive or they cause so much issues, and some people take the route of not wanting to replant trees or not wanting to keep trees, but… it’s important that we understand the role of trees…”

In fact, as we have repeatedly said in this space, trees serve as the “lungs” of the Earth. They facilitate preservation of air quality; combating global warming by absorbing harmful carbons released by the use of fossil fuels — an activity which has increased exponentially with industrialisation over the last 200 years.

Experts say mature trees are crucial in the provision of shade, water retention, water evaporation, and transpiration as well as carbon sequestration.

Also, tree roots reduce soil erosion and increase water percolation and filtration, improving water quality and reducing risk of flooding and slippage or slope failure. This is said to be of particular importance as more intense rainfall is being experienced due to climate change.

Hence the need to retain natural forests wherever possible, and for comprehensive, wide-ranging tree planting.

Crucially, too, trees are absolutely essential for the protection and preservation of wildlife. What would birds do without trees?

Also, as homeowners and farmers all over rural Jamaica can readily testify in relation to Beryl, trees at a safe enough distance serve as a priceless wind break, protecting buildings and crops.

Whatever we do we must never ignore, forget, or deny the immense value of trees.