The long standing debate of whether a real or fake Christmas tree is better has been going on for ages. Families all around the world celebrate Christmas with a tree, but not everyone agrees on which is the best type. We may never be able to answer if a natural or store made tree is better, but we can sure try!

Forests play a big role in the holiday season. When the natural trees are harvested for sale, there are more than ten times as many left standing. Overall, when the 350-500 million growing on tree farms are standing in the United States, only 30 million are harvested for the holiday season each year.

Buying natural trees for the cozy season helps keep tree farms thriving and in business. While more than half of The United States forests are privately owned, buying sustainable forest products supports the local communities and provides landowners with the profit they need to keep their land healthy and forested.

If farms are maintained correctly, the land will be covered in healthy forest habitat that the wildlife depends on to survive. After the holidays are completed, the trees can also be offered to recycling and given a second life.

While most states provide organizations for donated Christmas trees for conservation and habitat projects in small, local communities, artificial trees are rarely recyclable and cover our landfills on Earth. Science has proven that the best ways to protect our Earth’s forests is to use them carefully and care for our trees!

When Earth’s forests are sustainably managed and cared for at the highest levels, they are able to produce renewable sources—like Christmas trees—while also providing other wood-made products. Cutting down your own real tree this Christmas not only supports forests and tree farms, but is also a key to fighting climate change. Real trees do not require the intensive carbon emissions that it takes to produce artificial Christmas trees; therefore, it is the most eco-friendly choice.

Overall, supplying natural Christmas trees cuts more than 30% of carbon emissions needed to slow down climate change with natural solutions like restoring forests. Purchasing a real Christmas tree shows your support for local tree farmers and helps maintain healthy forests for the years to come.