Every April, we celebrate Earth Month and recognize all that nature provides for us and our communities. Trees are pulling a lot of weight in the fight against climate change – removing and holding carbon dioxide – all the while providing us with cooler cities, cleaner water, improved well-being and biodiversity.
But trees and forests are in danger: climate change, extreme heat and deforestation are just a few of the threats facing trees and the benefits they give. Earth Month asks of us: what can we do to protect trees for future generations?
Trees give us essential benefits to our well-being and communities. Let’s love them back! Here are four actions you can take today to celebrate Earth Month with us:Â
1. Tell us about how you’re loving trees back this Earth Month
We’re talking a lot about loving trees back on Facebook and Instagram and we want to hear from you! Show us your favorite forest or tree. Why do you love it? In what other ways can we care for our local environment? Take a moment to tell us what you think, and be sure to celebrate trees by sharing on your socials. It makes a big impact!
There are lots of everyday situations where we can love trees back. Here’s a few things you can do for trees near you:
- Learn about the different tree species near you
- Water a tree
- Clean up the area around a tree
- Enjoy a hike (responsibly)
Make sure to give us a tag on social, so we can celebrate a love for trees alongside you!
2. Find your neighborhood’s Tree Equity Score
Tree Equity Score was created to help address damaging environmental inequities by prioritizing human-centered investment in areas with the greatest need. Find out how your area stacks up and how you can get involved in advancing Tree Equity locally.
3. Sign up for email updates from American Forests
To continue loving trees back after Earth Month is over, you’ll want to stay informed. Earth Month never ends for us, and we are working year-round to protect and preserve forests for future generations. We regularly send out new opportunities and stories about our programs and we want you to follow along!
4. Donate to American Forests
This isn’t just self-promotion (well, maybe it is). Each gift supports our programs that love trees back through our reforestation, urban forestry, and policy efforts. And Earth Month is the perfect time to give –throughout April, all tax-deductible gifts will double, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 thanks to Sunday Lawn Care.
At American Forests, we like to consider ourselves experts when it comes to loving trees back. We’re responding to the threats our trees are facing through our Resilient Forests, Tree Equity, and Policy programs. By scaling up climate-smart reforestation in large landscapes, expanding Tree Equity in cities, and helping implement critical legislation, we are loving trees back every day through our work. Â