Senate Resolution No. 3313
BY: Senator KAPLAN
MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
April 24, 2020, 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
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Friday, April 24, 2020,
as Arbor Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Arbor Day; and
WHEREAS, Passed by virtue of the New York State Legislature, May 3,
1888, became the first Arbor Day in the great Empire State; today, New
York State celebrates Arbor Day annually on the last Friday in April;
and
WHEREAS, 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, Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc on our region, cut power to
millions of homes and businesses from the Carolinas to Ohio, and
disrupted the presidential campaign; and
WHEREAS, This vicious storm also ravaged trees and greenery around
homes and neighborhoods; the long term damage is just beginning to be
seen now; while seemingly intact, many trees are shocked and brown from
the lashing by hurricane-force and salt laden winds, while others may
not even survive; and
WHEREAS, The trees and shrubs on Long Island help reduce storm water
runoff, prevent soil erosion, provide habitat and shade, beautify the
landscape and protect our bays and harbors; and
WHEREAS, Thousands upon thousands of trees were lost on Long Island;
this year, April 22, 2020, which is designated as Earth Day in the State
of New York, along with Arbor Day, April 24, 2020, marks the perfect
time for all citizens to plant a tree to replace one that was lost; and
WHEREAS, In addition to restoring our landscape there is an economic
benefit to having a host of healthy trees in our region: 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
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Friday, April 24, 2020,
as Arbor Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.
