Declare Arbor Day Statewide

Senate Resolution No. 1415 BY: Senator PERSAUD MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Friday, April 28, 2017, 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 28, 2017, as Arbor Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with 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, 2017, which is designated as Earth Day in the State of New York, along with Arbor Day, April 28, 2017, 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 28, 2017, 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.