54.0°,
Partly Cloudy What does Arbor Day mean?
Arbor Day is celebrated the last Friday in April each year. It’s a special holiday that has been around for well over a century, a time to plant trees and consider all the things that trees provide for us, our communities and our world.
J. Sterling Morton was a man who loved trees. Morton also knew trees could help beautify his state, create windbreaks and stabilize the soil in farming communities. And so, in 1874 he created the very first Arbor Day in Nebraska.
Arbor Day has endured the test of time. One hundred and thirty six years later, Arbor Day is stronger than ever. And with good reason. People love trees. Trees enrich our lives. They provide beautiful places for inspiration and reflection in our hectic lives. Trees and forests provide homes for wildlife and a filtering and holding system for our clean, precious water. Trees also provide us with products we use every day including the obvious items such as wood and paper and the not-so-obvious things like photographic film, steering wheels, ice cream and toothbrushes that are made with products that come from trees. Trees are beautiful, usable and renewable.
But what does Arbor Day really mean? Arbor Day means different things to different people. To those who work in tree nurseries, Arbor Day celebrates what they do every day – grow trees.
To foresters, Arbor Day is a time to reflect on what they do throughout the year – grow and harvest forests. To loggers and folks that haul logs and wood products, Arbor Day is a reminder that this renewable resource can provide good jobs that keep their rural communities alive and working. To the businesses that produce lumber, plywood, trusses, windows, paper, and more, Arbor Day is a time to appreciate knowing that their living and their products come from a sustainable natural resource. Like farmers, they are often under appreciated for their role in providing the things we all use every day but rarely consider their source.
For children, Arbor Day is a time to plant something that can grow with them. For adults, Arbor Day is an opportunity to beautify their communities and mark life’s special celebrations. For grandparents, Arbor Day is a way to leave a legacy which will remain long after they’ve departed.
The value of trees to a community
As we observe Earth Month, think about these facts on just how important trees are in a community setting.
“The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.” — U.S. Department of Agriculture
“Landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, by shading the windows and walls of a home.” — American Public Power Association
“If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in five years your energy bills should be 3 percent less. In 15 years the savings will be nearly 12 percent.” — Dr. E. Greg McPherson, Center for Urban Forest Research
“A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and
$10,000.” — Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers
“Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent.” — Management Information Services/ICMA
“One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people.” — U.S. Department of Agriculture
“There are about 60-to 200- million spaces along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO2 every year, and saving $4 billion in energy costs.” — National Wildlife Federation
“Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20-50 percent in energy used for heating.” — USDA Forest
Service
“Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value.”—USDA Forest Service
“Nationally, the 60 million street trees have an average value of $525 per tree.” — Management Information Services
