Earth Day, Arbor Day, and the Influence of North American Forestry

Submitted: Two Sides North America April 23, 2025

April brings two important environmental holidays: Earth Day on April 22 and Arbor Day, observed on the last Friday in April in the U.S. (and on varying dates across Canada’s provinces). These observances are not only a celebration of nature but a call to action and a chance to acknowledge how far we’ve come in protecting forests and promoting sustainable land use. North American forestry demonstrates how responsible management and innovation can go hand-in-hand with environmental conservation.

A Quick Look Back: The History of Earth Day and Arbor Day

Earth Day began in 1970, sparked by growing public concern over air and water pollution. Proposed by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin as a “teach-in” and organized by a coalition of students, educators, and churches, the first Earth Day drew 20 million Americans into the streets in support of environmental reform. Earth Day–which was actually a week of conferences, workshops, lectures and activities–led directly to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and landmark laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.

Arbor Day has an even longer legacy. First proposed by J. Sterling Morton in 1872 in Nebraska, the holiday encouraged tree planting at a time when prairie states were being rapidly settled and deforested. More than one million trees were planted on that first Arbor Day, and the tradition has only grown. Today, the Arbor Day Foundation and local organizations coordinate large-scale tree-planting efforts across North America and beyond.

North American Forestry: A Sustainability Success Story

While forests in other parts of the world continue to suffer from overexploitation, North America has emerged as a global leader in sustainable forestry. Here are just a few ways the U.S. and Canada are making a difference:

📈 Forest Area is Stable—and Growing in Some Regions

United States: Forest area in the U.S. has remained essentially stable for over 100 years. Today, forests cover about one-third of the U.S. landscape—approximately 765 million acres. In fact, there are more trees in the U.S. today than there were in 1900, thanks in large part to responsible harvesting, replanting, and natural regeneration.
Canada: There are 367 million hectares (ha) of forest across Canada–15 times the size of all the Great Lakes put together. Since 1990, less than half of 1% has been deforested.

🌲 Tree Planting is a Major Industry

Over 1.6 billion trees are planted in North America each year. That’s more than four million trees every day.
The forest products industry is a major national employer. The industry is among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 44 states, employing more than 925,000 people, and accounts for a payroll of nearly $80 billion.
The forest products industry is a major contributor to the national economy, representing approximately 4.7% of U.S. manufacturing GDP, mainly boosting deeply rural communities.
More than half (58%) of the forestland in the U.S. is privately owned and managed. Approximately 11 million families, individuals, trusts, and estates, collectively referred to as family forest owners, control 38% of private forestland, more than any other group.

✅ Certified and Sustainable Forests

Third-party certification programs like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) ensure that forests are managed according to rigorous environmental, social, and economic standards.
As of 2024, North America leads the world in the amount of certified forest land, with over 50% of the world’s certified forests located in the U.S. and Canada.

🐻 Forests That Support Biodiversity

Sustainable forestry doesn’t just produce paper and lumber—it also protects wildlife habitat, clean water, and air.
Canada’s boreal forest is one of the most intact ecosystems on Earth, supporting species such as caribou, lynx, and migratory birds.
In the U.S., forests provide critical habitat for hundreds of species and are carefully managed to reduce wildfire risks and maintain ecological balance. Sixty percent of at-risk species live in private forests in the U.S.

📄 Paper is Part of the Solution

Forest products, especially paper, are made from renewable resources and are among the most recycled materials in North America.
Paper manufacturing depends on healthy forests, so the industry has a vested interest in keeping them thriving. And most paper products in the U.S. and Canada are made from wood residuals—by-products of sawmills and forest thinning, rather than old-growth trees.

Want to Get Involved For Earth Day and Arbor Day? Start Here:

Whether you’re looking to plant a tree, support forest conservation, or just learn more about sustainable forestry and paper, these organizations are a great place to begin:

🌿 Two Sides North America – Get the facts about forestry, paper, and sustainability. Our mission is to bust myths and share how the paper industry supports healthy forests.
💚Love Paper – Love Paper is a global campaign promoting the sustainable and attractive attributes of print, paper and paper packaging.
🌳 Arbor Day Foundation – Plant trees, donate to reforestation projects, or join their Tree City USA program.
🌎 Earth Day Network – Find local clean-up events, advocacy campaigns, and educational materials.
📚 Project Learning Tree – Education programs and resources for teachers, families, and students to learn about forests and sustainability.

Getting to the Roots

As we celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day this April, it’s worth recognizing the vital role that well-managed forests play in the health of our planet. We have much to be proud of in the U.S. and Canada—and plenty of reasons to stay engaged. Whether you work in forestry, print, or just care about trees and nature, you can help make sure our forests continue to grow strong.