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?

Whitebark pine restoration activities happening in Glacier National Park Mesh cages cover whitebark pine cones, on trees suspected to have genetic resistance to invasive blister rust, to prevent birds or bears from eating them. The seeds collected will be used to restore the trees in other areas. Glacier NP

Our reforestation activities include whitebark pine restoration happening in Glacier National Park. Mesh cages cover whitebark pine cones, on trees suspected to have genetic resistance to invasive blister rust, to prevent birds or bears from eating them. The seeds collected will be used to restore the trees in other areas.
Photo Credit: Glacier National Park

Planting of 100 trees at Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy in Detroit with Greening of Detroit, DTEP crew, and Zyrtec support. Nick Hagen / American Forests Nick Hagen

We work with local cities and areas to expand Tree Equity efforts, like planting of 100 trees at Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy in Detroit with Greening of Detroit, DTEP crew, and Zyrtec support.
Photo Credit: Nick Hagen / American Forests

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: 

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. 

AMEX planning Alley Pond Park, New York Aleksander Watson / American Forests

Group planting shot at Alley Pond Park in Queens, NY – American Forests’ Tree Equity Event, hosted by Natural Areas Conservancy, sponsored by American Express. Attended by staff from American Forests, American Express, Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC), NYC Parks, and AMEX-Funded NAC Interns from the Greenbelt Greenbelt Native Plant Center (GNPC), a facility of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, a 13–acre greenhouse on Staten Island.
Photo Credit: Aleksandr Watson / American Forests

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.