Earth Day 2016 – Trees For The Earth
The inaugural Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970. The nationwide event engaged 20 million Americans across the country to fight for environmental change. The mass involvement made a statement and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act were all passed by year end as well.
To celebrate 2016, the Earth Day Network’s theme is Trees for the Earth. The theme plays into their goal for the 50th anniversary in 2020. For the milestone anniversary, the Earth Day Network wants to plant a tree for each human on the plant – that’s 7.8 billion trees! The tree planting is driven by three goals:
- Reduce Pollution and Climate Change
Trees absorb harmful pollutants and filter the air, providing oxygen and cleaner air for us to breathe. According to the Alliance for Community Trees, urban trees in the U.S. remove 711,000 tons of air pollution annually.
- Protect Biodiversity
Planting the right trees in the right areas can help fight the loss of certain tree species and connect different trees across the globe.
- Support Communities
Trees provide communities with cleaner air, food, energy and income. Not to mention, property values often increase when trees are planted and crime rates are often reduced as well.
In honor of Earth Day, we invite you to stop out at our Garden Center and talk with one of our experts about selecting and planting a tree on your property. Take part in the Earth Day Network’s goal to plant trees across the globe! For trees already on your property, schedule a tree consultation with one of our ISA Certified Arborists today! Request a quote online now, or give us a call at 515.987.0800!
For other activities and events taking place around the metro on Earth Day, check out these resources:
You can also check out Earth Day Network to find out more about the organization that has energized people across the globe to fight for the environment. Learn ways to get involved and take action.
Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com/Ned Horton
