A Nebraska pioneer by the name of J. Sterling Morton organized the first Arbor Day celebration in 1872 to encourage the state’s new residents to plant trees. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Morton understood how important it was for Nebraska, a Great Plains state, to begin growing trees that would serve as windbreaks, fuel, building materials and shade for its growing cities.
From that first Arbor Day, during which an estimated 1,000,000 trees were planted in Nebraska, the idea of a special day to plant trees spread across the United States. Today, the most common date for national observance of Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. Many states also celebrate it on different dates throughout the year depending on the best time for tree planting in their area.
Celebrations can include special events, official proclamations and, of course, tree planting. But you don’t have to wait for a special event to plant a tree. The Arbor Day Foundation is a great source for seedlings, planting information, event ideas, tree facts and more.
Sustainable Forestry
For the forest products industry, which includes Domtar, every day is Arbor Day. The industry plants more than 1.7 million trees every day. In fact, Domtar plants more trees than it cuts down. Sustainable forestry practices ensure that our forests are renewed to create a steady supply of raw materials and to provide all of the benefits for the environment that forests have to offer.
Forests are critical to our long-term viability. Without them, our company — and our society — couldn’t survive. That’s why Domtar uses responsible forest management practices, and it’s why we require our suppliers to do the same. We also manage for biodiversity and create buffer zones for streams and lakes.
A great place to learn about how Domtar ensures sustainability throughout the supply chain is our video “Paper Making 101: It All Begins in the Forest.” In it, we explain how sustainability plays a significant role in every stage of the process, starting from the point where we procure fiber. We work with independent organizations to ensure that our fiber comes from well-managed forests.
On this Arbor Day, take some time to plant a tree in your community. And every day, choose paper products that come from responsibly managed forests. Look for the FSC Label the next time you buy a paper product.
