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Brief History of Arbor Day
In Nebraska City, Nebraska, on April 10, 1872, the first Arbor Day was observed. Julius Sterling Morton, a former journalist who later served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture, created Arbor Day as a method to spread his enthusiasm for trees. He produced several pieces about agriculture as an editor for a Nebraskan newspaper, noting his passionate interest in trees in particular.

Julius proposed Arbor Day as a means of boosting the number of trees in the area because at the time Nebraska did not have many of them. He was adamant that planting trees would help people better safeguard their crops from environmental dangers like erosion. Over 1 million trees are said to have been planted on that first acknowledgment and celebration of Arbor Day.

Why are Trees so Important?
Trees are generally recognized for their function in providing beauty and shade in our towns and neighborhoods. What is less widely appreciated are the numerous, sometimes unnoticed, things trees do to make our cities and towns more pleasant and healthy places to live.

Here are just a couple of ways that trees help us every single day:

Trees provide oxygen, which aids in pollution removal by reducing air temperatures, releasing water into the atmosphere, and trapping particle pollution. Overall, trees are a natural approach for nature to mitigate the consequences of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Planting trees fosters the settlement of a variety of animals. This increases biodiversity, laying a solid foundation for an ecosystem.

Ways to Celebrate Arbor Day?
Support the Arbor Day Foundation: Plant trees, donate, become part of the reforestation team, or set up fundraisers with them.

Plant trees with friends and family: A couple of organizations that you can use in support of Arbor Day are “One Tree Planted” and “Tree Aid.”

Learn more by going to the Arbor Day Foundation website, https://www.arborday.org/.