Go green, plant a tree

Many of us take things for granted: our friends and family, our health, our homes, our jobs — even the food we eat each and every day. Break it down further and many humans are often thankless for the daily gifts from the earth itself: the lapis-blue sky, the blazing, golden sun and the emerald green trees. We need, it seems, a moment now and then to put things into perspective — time to appreciate the beauty and purpose of what surrounds us — a chance to soak it all in.That, in part, is what Arbor Day is all about; at least when it comes to appreciating trees. Arbor Day was founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton of the Nebraska City newspaper; Morton also served as secretary of agriculture under President Grover Cleveland.Celebrated on April 25, Arbor Day promotes the mission of the Arbor Day Foundation, “a nonprofit conservation and education organization of nearly 1 million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, celebrate and nurture trees,” according to www.arborday.org.The foundation plants and distributes more than 10 million trees every year. Since 1990 it has worked with the U.S. Forest Service, and along with support from members and partners has planted more than 20 million trees in our national forests.Additionally, the Arbor Day Foundation “helps to preserve rain forest land through the Rain Forest Rescue program.” It’s saved more than 48,000 acres so far.It also connects children with nature through its Nature Explore Program, by providing important resources to schools and parks.Namely, though, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April, or the weekend thereafter, and is meant to encourage children to plant trees throughout their communities, now and into the future. Arbor Day was widely celebrated in the Harlem Valley this year: it was recognized in Amenia, at the Indian Rock Schoolhouse with Webutuck Elementary School first- and second-grade students and at Wethersfield Farm with Stissing Mountain Middle and High School FFA members; in Dover, by the Stone Church Grange with an inaugural event at the Stone Church Pond; in Millbrook, on Franklin Avenue with preschoolers from the Grace Church; and in Millerton, courtesy of Townscape, with village and town children. All of our towns and villages stressed what trees do for us at those events; they not only beautify our communities, they also provide life-essential oxygen. In fact, “trees absorb CO2, removing and storing the carbon while releasing the oxygen back into the air. In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of CO2 produced when you drive your car 26,000 miles. Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. In one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people,” according to www.treepeople.org.That is, simply put, amazing. We need our trees. But in a world where some countries slash and burn their forests for immediate gains, our trees are at risk — and the resulting long-term losses promise to be devastating. In regions where forests are stripped away to make room for development, it’s critical to have organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation advocating to replant as many trees as possible. Here’s to those still making Arbor Day a priority. Let’s hope the practice of planting trees — themselves seemingly born of highly concentrated seeds of knowledge — continue forever more. Share such lessons with those you love and watch the future grow bright and green.