Arbor Day

WHEREAS, in 1872, J. Sterling Morton, proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture a special day set aside for the planting of trees and to stress their ecological importance; and

WHEREAS, the holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska; and

WHEREAS, in the 1970s, under President Nixon, Arbor Day became a national holiday as part of the the environmentally-friendly actions of the Nixon administration; and

WHEREAS, alongside beautifying our community and increasing property values, trees are a vital resource for the continuation of the human species from building material, fuel for fire, resources like paper, and purifying the air we breathe; and

WHEREAS, from cutting heating and cooling costs, moderating temperature, and reducing erosion of topsoil by wind and water, trees not only allow for our livelihoods but also save us money; and

WHEREAS, beyond our species, three-quarters of the world’s documented land-based species can be found in forests, and according to the World Wildlife Foundation, in the last 50 years alone, we’ve lost 17% of the Amazon rainforest, which holds one in 10 known species on Earth.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT I, (GOVERNING BODY), do hereby proclaim: April 28^th as Arbor Day, in the (Municipality), and I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and;

FURTHER, in the spirit of J. Sterling Morton, I urge all citizens to plant and care for trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.