Hug a tree

Sarah Miller
MSMU Class of 2026

(4/2023) There is a saying in a famous movie, The Lorax, that I feel everyone should hear during times like ours when the environment can sometimes be pushed to the back of our minds with our busy schedules. Mr. Lorax states, "I am The Lorax. I speak for the trees! I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues." Imagine if the trees surrounding us every day had tongues: what would they tell us? The trees are so giving, and they supply us with everything that we need, and they have been around far longer than we have been inhabiting Earth. Without the trees, there would be no us. We wouldn't have plans tomorrow, Superbowls to watch, relationships to form, clouds to interpret, oceans to swim, and a year after this one. But imagine if we all advocated for the trees, or likewise if the trees had tongues. Arbor Day is a way of giving the means of communication back to nature, yet, it is a holiday that isn't greatly advertised. Arbor Day is for the good of the Earth, and it is just one small step that is for the greater good.

Arbor Day originated in Nebraska in 1972, when individuals found that there were very few trees within the terrain of the state. Nebraska had minimal biodiversity before this holiday, which was looked down upon because of the fundamental good that comes from trees. Trees help fight climate change and maintain healthy air; biodiversity helps minimize carbon and fight diseases that could harm populations. Arbor Day is a holiday that has no bad effects for the environment. Fourth of July has the tradition of blowing up fireworks in celebration, but it also produces a lot of harmful chemicals to get in our atmosphere; Christmas has gift wrap that makes a lot of waste and single-use paper that goes right into the landfill. Our American and religious traditions are meant to be fun and lighthearted, and, true, sometimes seeing the negative effects are not the most joyful to look at; but, to keep our climate alive, we need more trees, and Arbor Day is keeping our traditions alive and continuing keeping our world healthy.

Arbor Day started during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency and made a lasting impact in the United States when he signed it as a new national holiday. The first year that Arbor Day took place, one million trees were planted. Now, Nebraska has nearly 400 million trees, much to the credit of this special holiday that was made to help the environment and help keep our planet greener.

Arbor Day's counterpart, Earth Day, focuses on the education surrounding climate change and protecting the environment. In contrast, Arbor Day’s goal is to help create the environment that we need in order to thrive and flourish as a human population. Earth Day strives to bring attention and awareness, educating on how one can limit carbon footprint and reduce waste. Arbor Day also strives to help, but chiefly through a tangible way of action.

When I think of humans' environmental impact, I also think of the scenery around me. I think of the places that I couldn't go without a healthy environment or the places I couldn't appreciate without nice weather. I think of the places where I wish I could go in the future, like Alaska or Scotland or Costa Rica, that is known for its natural beauty. Although Arbor Day can also be a day where you dedicate a memorial to someone with a tree, we don't want that memorial to be for the foliage that was present or the places that didn't survive rising sea levels. We need to appreciate the nature around us so that nature can give back to us even more and continue to flourish. A good example is from the famous book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. It depicts how humans are always taking from nature but never look back and appreciate what nature has truly given humanity. The book explains that the tree is never really happy until the boy is happy, signifying the danger in humans focusing on what we want, rather than reflecting on all that we have. In contrast, the environment tends to be much more selfless.

Arbor Day is run by a nonprofit company, called the Arbor Day Foundation, whose sole purpose is to plant as many trees as possible. Since 1972, the company has grown over 10 million trees. Dependent on the climate, each state dedicates a day for Arbor Day, even though it may not get as much attention as it should. Also, in climates that are unable to plant on the usual last Friday in April timeframe, the holiday may be moved around so the environment can properly grow more trees. In Alaska and Hawaii, there are different days dedicated to Arbor Day because of the extreme weather, but it is still celebrated nevertheless.

Although it may be a holiday that doesn’t receive as much publicity as it should, and it isn't as celebrated as Christmas or Thanksgiving, it is a holiday that impacts the earth positively. Recognizing the good that is coming out of the community where they come together and plant trees is impactful. It helps humans live in a cleaner environment while also cooperating and organizing something that does something greater. To offset the emissions that each human produces every day, we need at least 15-20 trees planted per individual. Each tree matters, and without them, our planet would suffer greatly. Sea levels are rising, and the ozone layer is weakening, but with more trees and people who want to impact the world on a day like Arbor Day, there is much to be commended. So do yourself a favor and go outside and plant a tree. If you can't plant a tree, educate others on the importance of Arbor Day and the amazing effects it has on the only planet we call home.