When is Arbor Day and what is it?
PRESIDENT Joe Biden promised to make changes in the climate change crisis.
Since his announcement, events like Arbor Day seem just that much more important.
What is Arbor Day?
Arbor Day is a national day of awareness dedicated to trees and the important role they play in the environment. The word Arbor can be translated to tree.
Much like Earth Day, the purpose is to educate and encourage people to plant trees and make a better environment for the world. Trees play a vital role in our ecosystem as they provide oxygen, store carbon, and stabilize the soil.
The first Arbor Day can be dated back to April 10, 1872, when journalist Julius Sterling Morton proposed a day to encourage the people of Nebraska to plant a tree. The first day was very successful and an estimated 1 million trees were planted.
In 1970 it was officially recognized as a national holiday under President Richard Nixon’s environmentally-friendly administration along with the passing of the Clean Air Act.
When is Arbor Day?
Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday in April. This year it is being celebrated on April 30.
Despite the national recognition of the day, many states observe the day at different times throughout the year. It is usually observed throughout the year based on when it is best to plant trees in their area.
How to celebrate
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In typical years, Arbor Day would be celebrated with volunteering opportunities and community events but with the COVID-19 pandemic, doing large community events is highly frowned upon.
The Arbor Day Foundation recommends six ways that you can celebrate the day during COVID-19 times.
- Hike through a forest
- Online nature learning
- Draw trees
- Nature-based crafts
- Order/plant a tree
- Become a member of the Arbor Day Foundation.