Healthy natural resources are vital to environmental quality and the quality of life in Michigan. Every day, our citizens do little things to protect and enhance the environment from paper and plastic recycling to turning off lights and using less water.

One day a year, though, thousands of Michiganians also take time to celebrate the importance of trees; how trees improve the quality of the environment and enhance the quality of our lives.

This day is Arbor Day.

This year, April 27, marks the 122nd year that Michigan has celebrated Arbor Day, and the Department of Natural Resources has helped sponsor the state's official celebration since 1994.

"Arbor Day is a great opportunity for children and people of all ages to get involved with the stewardship of our natural resources," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. "On this year's Arbor Day, I encourage all Michiganians to think about the growing, vital future we have in Michigan and plant a tree for tomorrow."

Arbor Day began in the Nebraska Territory in 1872. J. Sterling Morton, a journalist, championed the idea of a "tree planting holiday."

Morton, who was a member of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture, grew up in Monroe, Mich. He attended Albion College and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1854.

An important conservationist of his generation, Morton was joined by others who shared his concerns about the future of our nation's trees, including B.G. Northrup, George P. Marsh, A. S. Draper and Theodore Roosevelt. On the first Arbor Day, April 10, 1872, more than one million trees were planted by Nebraskans.

Since then Arbor Day has become an officially recognized holiday in every state as well as many foreign countries.

Although Arbor Day has been observed as an official state holiday in Michigan since 1885, it was common for communities in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas to have separate Arbor Days because of spring planting conditions.

This practice changed in 1965, when Governor George Romney proclaimed the last week of April as Arbor Week, and the Friday of that week as Arbor Day -- a tradition continued by every Michigan Governor and Legislature since.

With the loss of millions of ash trees throughout the state as a result of the emerald ash borer, the importance of trees in our urban and community forests has never been greater, said Kevin Sayers, coordinator of the DNR's Urban Forestry Program.

"This spring, many communities will continue replanting trees in areas where ash trees have been lost," Sayers said. "The celebration of Arbor Day is an opportunity to learn about trees and take positive action to help improve the environment and society on a local and global scale."

According to research conducted by the USDA Forest Service, trees really do pay us back in tangible ways that go beyond just aesthetics. For example, trees can:

• provide important products from wood, lumber and paper to chewing gum and soap
• provide shade that can save up to 20% on air-conditioning costs annually
• block wind that can save up to 2% on winter heating costs
• increase property values by up to 10%
• improve business and customer satisfaction
• clean the air and water by filtering and removing pollutants
• provide food and habitat for wildlife

Although Arbor Day celebrations take on many different forms, nearly every one involves the planting of trees and education about their importance and value.

For example, this year, Sayers said there are 111 Michigan communities participating in the National Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA program. This program requires communities to have an official Arbor Day event annually.

"And across the state, thousands of school children learn about Arbor Day by planting trees in school forests, on school grounds and by dedicating songs, poems and essays in honor of trees," he said.

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is a coalition of organizations and agencies dedicated to the promotion and celebration of Arbor Day throughout Michigan.

According to Alliance coordinator Jennifer Rostar, the state's official celebration is being planned for April 27 at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing.

"More than 1,200 elementary school students, teachers and volunteers from across mid-Michigan will be participating," Rostar said. "This event is a great way to get kids involved and to make them more aware of the holiday and the importance of planting trees."

The event also includes 24 natural resources activity stations, a visit from Smokey Bear and a cross-cut saw competition between the city of Lansing forestry employees and utility forestry crews from the Lansing Board of Water and Light.

"Arbor Day is special for everyone but it's especially gratifying for those involved with the care of trees," said Sayers, who works with hundreds of communities, public officials, citizens and volunteers across the state to provide education, training and financial assistance for urban forestry.

"It is like having your own holiday to recognize the importance of what you do. Most holidays reflect on the past, but Arbor Day celebrates the future."

For more information about Arbor Day and urban forestry programs available from the DNR, contact Sayers at (517) 241-4632 or sayersk@michigan.gov.