COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Foresters and staff members from Texas A&M Forest Service celebrated Texas Arbor Day on Friday with school presentations, tree plantings and tree giveaways.
Each year, Texas celebrates Arbor Day on the first Friday of November to increase awareness of the benefits and value of trees. This year’s theme If Trees Could Talk emphasizes the importance of trees to people, ecosystems and the economy.
Over 9600 tree seedlings were given to students, organizations and communities throughout the day.
More than 70 employees from the Forest Service gave Arbor Day presentations at 36 schools and organizations to explain the life cycle of trees the benefits they provide to people and the economy. The presentations reached more than 8000 students at campuses across Texas including, Austin, San Marcus, Houston and College Station.
Through a Friday morning press release, Forest Systems Department Head Gretchen Riley said, “Texas Arbor Day is a special day to celebrate trees and the benefits they provide, benefits like clean air, clean water, cooler temperatures and even improved health. What better place to talk about the importance and value of trees than with the next generation of stewards.”
Along with presentations, the Forest Service staff planted 3-gallon trees on school campuses, donated by the Texas Trees Foundation. Seven thousand seedlings, donated by Texas A&M Forest Service, were also distributed to students.
Separately, 760 seedlings were distributed to 38 organizations for planting across the state to celebrate Arbor Day.
The tree planting project is an effort to address the impacts of the urban heat islands affecting the Houston greater area. Urban heat islands are areas with elevated temperatures due to a lack of green space and have effects on public health, energy consumption and overall quality of life.
Through the same press release, Jacey Tosh, the Forest Service Conservation Education Coordinator, said, “In the end, we protect what we love, we love only what we understand, and we only understand what we are taught. Sharing conservation and tree education with schools and students all across the state ensures that the future of forests is as bright as we hope it will be.”
Texas Arbor Day partners include the Texas Forestry Association and the Texas Chapter of International Society of Arboriculture.
Other project partners were Repsol, the Texas Conservation Alliance, the Houston-Galveston Area Council, Trees for Houston, Harris County Precinct 3 and the National Association of Conservation Districts.
For details about the history of Arbor Day in Texas, visit the Forest Service's Arbor Day website.
