Value of Trees: From Oxygen to Wealth in a Climate Crisis

Value of Trees: From Oxygen to Wealth in a Climate Crisis

Nilim Kashyap Barthakur

Imagine standing silently outside your window, there is a green ATM, tirelessly dispensing lakhs of rupees worth of oxygen every day and yet, it asks for nothing in return but a little space and sunlight?

Sounds unreal, right? But that’s exactly what a single tree does for us. In a world racing towards air purifiers, oxygen cans, and climate chaos, we’re beginning to put a price on what was once taken for granted : the air we breathe.

The future isn’t far when oxygen will be traded like oil, and those who preserve trees today may just be the richest tomorrow. So, how much is one tree worth? Let’s do the math.

How Much Oxygen Does One Tree Produce?

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Trees are nature’s oxygen factories, using photosynthesis to transform carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen (O2). In India, trees like the peepal (Ficus religiosa), banyan (Ficus benghalensis), and neem (AzadirachtaIndica) are among the top oxygen producers due to their large canopies and robust growth.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, a mature tree produces about 260 pounds (118 kilograms) of oxygen per year. In India, a 2022 study in Current Science estimated that fast-growing agroforestry trees, like neem or mango, produce oxygen at a rate of 1.03–34.15 tonnes per hectare per year, with a single mature tree averaging around 100–300 kilograms annually, depending on species, age, and conditions.

Let’s takean example of a Peepal tree, known for releasing oxygen even at night due to its unique CrassulaceanAcid Metabolism.Amature peepal can produce around 300 kg (661 pounds) of oxygen per year.

Over a conservative lifespan of 100 years, that’s approximately 30,000 kg of oxygen, enough to support the breathing needs of 230 people for a year, since the average person requires about 130 kg of oxygen annually.For context, India’s forests withspecies like Sal and Mango have an oxygen production potential of 7896 million tonnes annually, as per 2019 data from the Indian State of Forest Report(ISFR).

Comparing Tree Oxygen to Oxygen Cylinders

Now, let’s put this in economic terms,especially in the context of India’s oxygen needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oxygen shortages highlighted the critical value of medical oxygen. A standard jumbo oxygen cylinder in India holds about 7 m³ of gaseous oxygen, equivalent to roughly 10 kgs of oxygen (since a cubic metre of oxygen weighs about 1.43 kg).In 2021, during the peak of the crisis, refilling a jumbo cylinder cost between ₹500 and ₹800 in cities like Delhi and Mumbai.

One cylinder’s  10 kg of oxygen is a tiny fraction of a tree’s annual output. A mature peepal tree produces 300 kg of oxygen per year, equivalent to the oxygen in 30 jumbo cylinders. At ₹800 per cylinder, that is ₹24,000 worth of oxygen annually. Over100 years, the tree’s 30,000 kg of oxygen equates to 3000 cylinders, valued at 24 lakh rupees.

A 2020 post by an Indian Forest Service officer estimated a tree’s oxygen value at 45,000 rupees per year, suggesting a 100-year-old treecould be worth one crore.

But here is the catch: oxygen cylinders are aone-time manufactured resource, often requiring complex logistics like cryogenic tankers, refilling stations, and fossil fuel-powered transport.A tree, on the other hand, produces oxygen for free, year after year, with no carbon footprint.While also cleaning the air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen.

During the 2021 Oxygen crisis, India’s daily medical oxygen demand hit 8943 metric tonnes, with production struggling to keep up at 7800 metric tonnes.Tree-like Neem or banyan plants planted in large numbers could ease such pressures by naturally enriching the air we breathe.

A Tree’s Broader Value

A single tree’s worth goes far beyond oxygen. In India, trees like mango and jamun sequester about 1 ton of CO2 over their lifetime, helping combat climate change. They cool urban areas by up to 10°F through shade and transpiration, critical in cities like Delhi, where summer temperatures often exceed 40 degrees.

This cooling reduces energy costs for air conditioning, saving households money. Trees also filter pollutants, stabilize soil, and support biodiversity- think of the birds nesting in a banyan’s sprawling canopy or the medicinal neem leaves used in ayurvedic remedies for everything from skin diseases to diabetes.

Culturally, trees like peepal and banyan hold sacred status in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, often planted near temples or revered as symbols of enlightenment. A single tree can boost property values by up to 15% and improve mental health, as studies show time spent near trees lowers stress and BP.

Concept of Oxygen Parlour

An “oxygen parlour” is a space, often a dedicated area within a railway station or other public place, designed to provide a clean air environment for people to breathe. It typically involves using air-filtering plants or other technology to remove pollutants and improve air quality. The concept is based on research suggesting that certain plants can effectively absorb harmful toxins from the air.

In a future with scarce breathable air, there will be commercial oxygen parlours. They will charge money for fresh oxygen. Oxygen parlours might charge ₹850–₹4,250 per hour, based on current oxygen bar rates (₹85–₹170 per minute in cities like Beijing), while daily oxygen mask use, with advanced units costing ₹42,500 and monthly refills at ₹8,500–₹17,000, may become common in polluted cities like Delhi (AQI > 300).

Access to trees could be commodified, with fees of ₹425–₹1,700 to stand under one for clean air, similar to eco-tourism models like forest bathing. Tree ownership may signify wealth, with a single tree valued at ₹8,500–₹17,000 annually for oxygen and carbon benefits (Payment for Ecosystem Services estimates), and governments could levy taxes of ₹8.5 lakh–₹17 lakh per year on a 10-acre forest to fund climate initiatives.

Final Thoughts

One tree in India, say a peepal, produces 30,000 kg of oxygen over a hundred years,worth 25,00,00 rupees in oxygen cylinders alone,  not to mention its priceless ecological and cultural value.While a cylinder costs ₹800 for a fleeting 10 kg of oxygen,a tree gives freely for decades, supporting life, health, and the planet.

In a country where air quality and oxygen access are growing concerns, a single tree is a powerhouse of hope, so plant one, protect one, and let’s grow a greener India together.

Nilim Kashyap Barthakur is a student of communication and journalism, Gauhati University

Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking.  You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com(For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary) Images from different sources.