What's the value of a tree?

I heard the unmistakable crack and splinter of a tree breaking apart and bolted to the door to see what was going on.

This excavator is pulling this lovely grove of trees down, pictures in the background. While the whine of chainsaws sever these trees, the excavator moves them away.  

I cried.  This is progress.  Destruction to make way for yet another monster house.  In this case 4 houses where 1 used to stand.

I get it, these homes earn the builder hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps a million dollars.  

But what about the wildlife that called this glade of trees home?  What about the air quality that is improved because of these trees? What about the temperature that is moderated by the shade these trees give?  What about the 20 years of growth, time that it took for these trees to grow to this magnificence? 

As tears stream down my face, I say a prayer and honour all that these trees have given us.  

My reaction is that I want to go out and buy new little trees to plant, to honour what is coming down today.  

It's too hot right now to do that, to plant trees, but once it's cooler I will be planting some new trees.  

My tender heart is bruised today watching and listening to this happening.