Friday is Arbor Day. Arbor Day is an annual observance celebrating the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree plant-ing and care. It was first observed in 1872 in Nebraska.
Gov. Walker issued a proclamation recognizing Friday, April 27 as Arbor Day in Wisconsin and this week as Forest Appreciation Week.
Urban forestry team leader at the DNR, Jeff Roe says the day is meant to focus awareness on what trees mean to Wisconsin...
"....We celebrate tree planting and the value of trees to our communities as well as rural landscapes. Recognizing the value and the importance and enjoyment we get from our tree resource. It's a holiday we celebrated in Wisconsin since 1883. It's a long running celebration. It's one of the holidays that looks toward the future as opposed to what has happened in the past...."
Roe says the DNR has donated 32,000 tree seedlings to Wisconsin fourth-grade classrooms to commemorate Arbor Day.
These seedlings, grown by the Division of Forestry's Reforestation Program, help young people learn about the important role of trees in their everyday lives...
"....It's been a long-running educational sharing program between the DNR and fourth grade teachers to get the word out about tree planting and getting seedlings. One of our Arbor Day media(actions) is looking at people sharing. Maybe pictures when they planted a tree and what it looks like now. Just to see how they've done over time and share that connection over time...."
Wisconsin is second in the nation for Tree City USA communities. Holding an Arbor Day celebration is one of the four standards of urban forest management a community must meet to achieve Tree City USA status. The other requirements include maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, and spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry.
