About the report Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef area and have a continuing connection to their land and sea country.

The Great Barrier Reef is important in the history and culture of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Animals such as dugongs and turtles have long been part of Aboriginal dreaming and are important in many aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef region, and evidence of their sea country connections goes back over 60,000 years. Today there are approximately 70 Traditional Owner clan groups whose sea country includes the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Made up of 3,000 individual reefs, it protects our coastlines and is home to thousands of species of marine life including fish, whales, dolphins and six of the world’s seven species of marine turtle. The Great Barrier Reef is also one of the largest carbon sinks in the world.

The majority of this production is from oceanic plankton — drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize. One particular species, Prochlorococcus, is the smallest photosynthetic organism on Earth. But this little bacteria produces up to 20% of the oxygen in our entire biosphere.

Top 5 Plants for Increasing Oxygen

• Areca Palm. As with all plants, the Areca Palm is biologically engineered to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
• Snake Plant a.k.a. Mother-In-Law’s Tongue.
• Money Plant.
• Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera Jamesonii)
• Chinese Evergreens.
• 4 Fun Fall Activities COPD Patients Can Enjoy.

Here is a list of trees that produce the most oxygen, keep reading to know more!

1. Banyan Tree.
2. Neem Tree.
3. Peepal Tree.
4. Arjuna Tree.
5. Ashoka Tree.
6. Indian Bael.
7. Curry Tree.
8. Saptaparni Tree.

Peepal tree

Silver birch, yew and elder trees were the most effective at capturing particles, and it was the hairs of their leaves that contributed to reduction rates of 79%, 71% and 70% respectively.

One is advised not to sleep under a tree because plants release carbon dioxide (CO2) at night which may harm our body if inhaled in huge amounts. Peepal tree is very huge and heavy therefore it releases a great amount of carbon dioxide at night. So one should not sleep under any tree at night.

The ‘peepal’ tree, which is also known as ‘sacred fig’, releases oxygen round-the-clock unlike many other plants, which release oxygen only during the day.

Peepal Tree: Peepal tree is also known as Ashwattha. The tree is considered as a most sacred tree in Hinduism. This tree is a symbol of the Universe’s never-ending expanse – indeed, it is revered across the Indian subcontinent, particularly amongst the Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, as the Tree of Life .

Peepal trees have always been associated with myths, more so because people like to rest under their shade as they are said to attract cool afternoon breeze even during the worst summer months. Despite this holiness bestowed on the peepal, the tree is believed to be haunted by the Munjia.

This is quite dangerous since the tree exhales huge amounts of carbon dioxide during the night. Sometimes this could lead to death too. Hence these ghost stories to keep them away from these trees. Peepal tree released a large amount of carbon dioxide which cushioned the access of oxygen to the area near the tree.