What is National Arbor Day?

National Arbor Day is an annual holiday in the United States dedicated to the planting and care of trees. Celebrated on the last Friday of April each year, Arbor Day encourages individuals, communities, and organisations to plant trees and recognise the essential role that trees play in supporting life on Earth. The day is promoted by the Arbor Day Foundation, the largest non-profit membership organisation dedicated to tree planting, which has planted more than 500 million trees worldwide since its founding.

Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 US states, and many states also observe their own state-level Arbor Day on dates suited to their local planting seasons. The holiday has inspired similar tree-planting observances in countries around the world.

When is National Arbor Day?

National Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday in April each year. In 2026, National Arbor Day falls on Friday 24 April.

Why National Arbor Day Matters

Trees are fundamental to life on Earth. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, filter air and water pollution, provide habitat for wildlife, prevent soil erosion, and moderate local temperatures. In urban areas, trees reduce the heat island effect, lower energy costs, and improve mental health and wellbeing for residents.

Despite their importance, forests and tree cover continue to face significant threats from deforestation, urbanisation, climate change, invasive pests, and disease. National Arbor Day draws attention to these challenges and mobilises communities to take direct action by planting trees in their neighbourhoods, parks, schools, and public spaces.

The Arbor Day Foundation has been at the forefront of this effort. With more than one million members, the organisation has planted over 500 million trees in communities, forests, and neighbourhoods worldwide. In 2023 alone, the foundation planted and distributed a record 1.7 million urban trees across 458 projects in all 50 states and 28 countries. The foundation’s current goal is to plant an additional 500 million trees by 2027, with a focus on forests and neighbourhoods of greatest need.

Tree planting also plays a critical role in the fight against climate change. Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. Protecting existing forests and planting new trees are among the most effective and accessible strategies for reducing greenhouse gas concentrations and mitigating the impacts of a warming planet.

How to Get Involved

There are many ways to celebrate National Arbor Day:

• Plant a tree — The simplest and most meaningful way to observe Arbor Day is to plant a tree in your garden, community, or local park. Choose native species suited to your local climate and soil conditions.
• Join a community planting event — Many cities, towns, and organisations host tree-planting events on or around Arbor Day. Contact your local council, parks department, or conservation group to find events near you.
• Join the Arbor Day Foundation — Membership includes free trees to plant and supports the foundation’s global planting programmes. Visit arborday.org to learn more.
• Educate young people — Schools can use Arbor Day as an opportunity to teach students about ecology, the water cycle, photosynthesis, and the importance of conservation. The Arbor Day Foundation offers free educational resources for teachers.
• Care for existing trees — Arbor Day is not just about planting new trees. Take time to water, mulch, and prune the trees already in your care. Healthy mature trees provide far greater environmental benefits than newly planted saplings.
• Donate or fundraise — Support tree-planting organisations through donations or by organising a community fundraiser.
• Share on social media — Post photos of your planting activities and share information about the importance of trees using the relevant hashtags.

History

Arbor Day was founded by J. Sterling Morton, a journalist, agriculturalist, and politician who settled in Nebraska in the 1850s. Morton was passionate about trees and recognised their vital importance on the largely treeless Great Plains. He planted hundreds of trees on his own estate and advocated tirelessly for others to do the same.

On 4 January 1872, Morton proposed a tree-planting holiday at a meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture. The first Arbor Day was celebrated on 10 April 1872, and an estimated one million trees were planted across Nebraska on that single day. The idea spread rapidly, and by the 1920s, every US state had established its own Arbor Day.

In Nebraska, Arbor Day became a state civic holiday in 1885, initially observed on 22 April — Morton’s birthday. In 1989, the national observance was moved to the last Friday in April, where it remains today. Morton’s former estate in Nebraska City now serves as Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, a popular destination for visitors and a lasting tribute to his legacy.

The Arbor Day Foundation was established in 1972 to mark the centennial of the first Arbor Day celebration. Founded by John Rosenow, the organisation has grown into the world’s largest tree-planting non-profit and continues to carry forward Morton’s vision of a greener, healthier planet. The United States was one of the first countries to celebrate a dedicated tree-planting holiday, and the concept has since been adopted by nations around the world.

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