Assembly Resolution No. 2317

BY: M. of A. Kelles

COMMEMORATING April 26, 2024, as Arbor Day in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to support and
promote the historic and significant observance of Arbor Day in New York
State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate Friday, April 26, 2024, as Arbor Day in the State of New
York; and

WHEREAS, Passed by virtue of the New York State Legislature, May 3,
1888, became the first Arbor Day in this great Empire State; today, New
York State celebrates Arbor Day annually on the last Friday in April;
and

WHEREAS, This year marks the 152nd Anniversary of Arbor Day; the
first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska; it was the
brainchild of Julius Sterling Morton (1832-1902), a Nebraska journalist
and politician originally from Michigan; throughout his long and
productive career, Julius Morton worked to improve agricultural
techniques in his adopted state and throughout the United States when he
served as President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture, but his
most important legacy is Arbor Day; and

WHEREAS, Julius Morton felt that Nebraska's landscape and economy
would benefit from the wide-scale planting of trees; he set an example
himself planting orchards, shade trees and wind breaks on his own farm
and he urged his neighbors to follow suit; and

WHEREAS, Julius Morton's real opportunity arrived when he became a
member of Nebraska's state board of agriculture; he proposed that a
special day be set aside dedicated to tree planting and increasing
awareness of the importance of trees; and

WHEREAS, Nebraska's first Arbor Day was an amazing success; more
than one million trees were planted; a second Arbor Day took place in
1884, and the young state made it an annual legal holiday in 1885, using
April 22nd to coincide with Julius Morton's birthday; and

WHEREAS, In the years following that first Arbor Day, Julius
Morton's idea spread beyond Nebraska with Kansas, Tennessee, Minnesota
and Ohio, all proclaiming their own Arbor Days; today, all 50 states
celebrate Arbor Day although the dates may vary in keeping with the
local climate; and

WHEREAS, At the federal level, in 1970, President Richard Nixon
proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day; and

WHEREAS, Arbor Day is also now celebrated in other countries
including Australia; variations are celebrated, including: "Greening
Week" of Japan, "The New Year's Days of Trees" in Israel, "The

Tree-Loving Week" of Korea, "The Reforestation Week" of Yugoslavia, "The
Students' Afforestation Day" of Iceland and "The National Festival of
Tree Planting" in India; and

WHEREAS, There is a benefit to having a host of healthy trees in our
State; in 50 years, one tree recycles more than $37,000 worth of water,
provides $31,000 worth of erosion control, $62,000 worth of air
pollution control, and produces $37,000 worth of oxygen; and well placed
trees help cut energy costs and consumption by decreasing air
conditioning costs 10-50% and reducing heating costs as much as 4-22%;
and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, trees increase property values by 5 to 20% due
to their landscaping value; trees are good noise barriers, making cities
and neighborhoods quieter places to live; trees enhance the aesthetics
of our environment; trees help prevent city flooding by catching
raindrops and offsetting runoff caused by buildings and parking lots;
and trees provide privacy, highlight views or screen them, and reduce
glare; and

WHEREAS, According to a Chinese proverb: "One generation plants the
trees under whose shade future generations rest"; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is now moved to commemorate the
observance of Arbor Day and to acknowledge the efforts of citizens who
plant and care for trees and woodlands in their neighborhoods; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate April 26, 2024, as Arbor Day in the State of New York.