Arbor Day had humble beginnings

April is the month when many states celebrate a community tree-planting tradition that dates back 140 years. J. Sterling Morton first proposed Arbor Day as a tree-planting holiday on Jan. 4, 1872. The date was officially set for April 10, 1872, and, according to official records, more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.

Among the many pioneers moving west in the 1800s, Morton — a Detroit native — settled in the Nebraska Territory in 1854. He and his wife were ardent lovers of nature and soon planted many trees and shrubs at their homestead. Morton, editor of a Nebraska newspaper, took advantage of that forum to publish information about agriculture and spread his enthusiasm for trees to his readers. He not only advocated tree planting by individuals, but also encouraged civic organizations to join in as well.

As his prominence increased, he became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, providing a more prominent platform and opportunity to stress the value of trees as windbreaks to stabilize soils, for fuel and building materials, and for shade from the hot Nebraska sun. Even though other states passed legislation to observe Arbor Day in the 1870s , and schools nationwide picked up the tradition in 1882, it was not until 1885 that the governor of Nebraska officially named Arbor Day a legal holiday in that state.

Today, the most common date for a state observance is the last Friday in April. Several U.S. presidents have proclaimed a national Arbor Day on that date. However, a number of states declare an Arbor Day to coincide with the best tree-planting weather, from January in the south to May in the north.

Montana usually celebrates Arbor Day on the last Friday in April. It’s the official day of observance “to increase public awareness of the vital importance of conserving and propagating trees and forests to the everyday life of Montana citizens.” Individuals, groups, schools and public officials from Libby to Glendive participate in tree-planting events.

All trees provide benefits to their ecosystems, whether urban or rural; however, urban forests face numerous challenges. Due to their close proximity to human activity, urban forests are exposed to more man-caused disturbances than their rural counterparts. Many non-native invasive species and disease threaten the urban forest and may potentially spread to rural areas.

Urban areas are exposed to greater pollution and, as urban areas continue to expand, forests become more fragmented. More than 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in urban areas, so it’s important to note that urban forests help manage a municipal water system and help reduce energy demands by strategically planting trees for shade. Just 100 trees can remove two tons of carbon dioxide and roughly 800,000 tons of air pollution from the atmosphere annually.

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, has become a leading community forestry program, with more than 3,400 designated Tree City USAs across the country.

Montana hosts 42 certified Tree City USA communities and one Tree Campus USA College at Carroll College in Helena. The 42 certified communities serve a population of more than 460,000. Almost half of Montana’s total population benefits from this program. The 7,000 Arbor Day Foundation members in Montana planted more than 53,000 trees last year alone.

From humble beginnings, Arbor Day founder, J. Sterling Morton’s love of nature has grown across America and to some 34 foreign countries. As Morton said 140 years ago, “Each generation takes the earth as trustees,” and as for a forester, everyday is tree-planting day.

Julia Altemus is the executive vice president of the Montana Wood Products Association.