History:
April 10, 1872, the first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska. In 1885, Arbor Day became a legal holiday in Nebraska and soon for the whole world. Arbor Day Foundation began September 3, 1971. The holiday was started by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Founder of the organization: Col. David J. Wright, also known as D. Jeffery Wright.
Motto:
We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.
Importance of Trees:
Trees are a crucial resource. They are needed for wood, paper, rubber, sweets, essential oils, medicines/cures, soap, musical instruments, and many more. Also, they are carbon absorbers and keep the environment safe from soil erosion and are our saviors for global warming. In a process called photosynthesis, they gather the sun’s rays (usually), water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients/minerals from the soil to transform the ingredients to glucose, a sugar, and oxygen, a waste product. As you may know, greenhouse gases cause global warming, which keeps the Earth warm like it is wrapped up in a blanket. Greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), sulfur hexaflouride, etc. But, the sole contributors to the warming of precious Earth are carbon dioxide and methane. Burning fossil fuels, like when you are driving a gas-guzzling car, using electricity, and manufacturing plastic all produce carbon dioxide. Cows and humans farting and the decomposition of food waste in landfills are top suppliers of methane. Everyday activities usually involve greenhouse gases; watching television, surfing the computer, and using your treadmill are all examples of this. It might not be possible, or at least VERY hard to get rid of all the greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, to 350 parts per million. However, it is plausible to make up for the particles. A major way is to plant trees. This is where the Arbor Day Foundation comes in. Whenever you donate money, become a member of the community, shop at their website, or send “tree cards”, you are helping that organization to plant trees all around the nation. Just look at their motto: “We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.”