GEORGIA—Arbor Day 2022 was a giant celebration befitting a sesquicentennial. This year marked the 150th anniversary of the Arbor Day holiday and the 50th anniversary of the Arbor Day Foundation.

The USDA Forest Service helped celebrate the special commemoration with a tree-planting in Atlanta April 29.

Arbor Day celebrates the planting of trees across the world. What better place to honor that mission than Georgia’s capital, nicknamed the “City in the Forest”? The Arbor Day Foundation is a conservation organization and partner with a mission to inspire people to plant, celebrate and nurture trees.

“There is no better way to celebrate 150 years of Arbor Day than at a community event with the USDA Forest Service’s long-standing partner, the Arbor Day Foundation, and local leader Trees Atlanta, planning 53 trees in the John Lewis Flowering Forest,” said Deputy Under Secretary Meryl Harrell. “Urban and community trees provide benefits from cleaner air and water, to reduced heat exposure and energy usage, to improved health and quality of life. Today’s plantings and our investment in the long-term maintenance of this forest highlight our mission and commitment to collaboration with local, state, tribal and national partners to invest together in improving environmental quality and increasing equitable access to tree canopy.” 

Harrell was joined by Arbor Day Foundation CEO Dan Lambe as well as local and state agency representatives in Atlanta’s Freedom Park, where they planted more than 30 trees. Trees Atlanta, a local nonprofit, facilitated the event alongside volunteers and Forest Service employees from the Southern Region.

Urban and community trees provide a $73 billion benefit to society, according to an Arbor Day Foundation study from 2021. These environmental benefits, include carbon sequestration, reduced air pollution, and reduced storm water runoff. 

“We are honored to showcase the essential work we undertake every day to grow and maintain our urban and community forests,” said Beattra Wilson, Forest Service Assistant Director for Urban & Community Forestry. “These programs are critical to ensuring that we not only meet the needs of our vulnerable communities, but also make progress towards achieving climate outcomes through urban forestry activities that support climate mitigation and adaptation.”

While National Arbor Day is celebrated the last Friday of April, forests across the country hold various events in honor of planting trees throughout the year.