The origin of Arbor Day, {abbreviation required}

In the 4th year of the Republic of China (1915), Ling Daoyang, a famous forestry expert who participated in the formulation of the "Forest Law of the Republic of China", felt that the country's forestry industry was sluggish and the current situation of the forestry industry was that "there are many mountains and ridges, but there is no hair", and he began to Practice the "Forest Theory of National Salvation" proposed by him and devote himself to the research and publicity of forest science.

Ling Daoyang, together with Han An, Joseph Bailie and other forest scientists, wrote to the Beiyang government of Yuan Shikai at that time, proposing the implementation method of "Arbor Day" in the United States to Zhang Jian, the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, hoping that the government would follow suit. China promotes Arbor Day.

Since Chinese people have the custom of planting trees and willows during Qingming Festival, forestry experts such as Ling Daoyang proposed that Qingming Festival be China’s Arbor Day. On July 31 of the same year, the Beiyang government approved Tomb-Sweeping Day as "Chinese Arbor Day".

On April 6, 1916, the Qingming Festival, the Beiyang government held China’s first Arbor Day celebration at Ma Jinding in Xishan, Beijing. At the same time, local government departments at all levels across the country were required to plant trees extensively during the Arbor Day. afforestation. This event was held as usual every year and lasted for many years, but then gradually became a mere formality.

After the success of the National Revolutionary Army’s Northern Expedition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Mines of the National Government petitioned the Executive Yuan in the 18th year of the Republic of China (1929), in view of the fact that the founding father Sun Yat-sen actively advocated the national afforestation movement to improve people’s livelihood during his lifetime.

Therefore, March 12th each year (the day of Sun Yat-sen’s death) is designated as Arbor Day (the National Government and the Government of the Republic of China call this day the “anniversary of the death of the Father of the Nation”), and it is held in the Executive Yuan. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China passed the "Measures for Holding Afforestation Activities on Arbor Day" and ordered them to be implemented nationwide.

Extended information:

Arbor Day is a festival that promotes the protection of trees in accordance with legal provisions and mobilizes the masses to actively participate in tree planting as an activity. According to the length of time, it can be divided into tree planting day, tree planting week and tree planting month, which is called International Arbor Day. It is advocated to use this kind of activity to inspire people's enthusiasm for afforestation.

Ecological value

Arbor Day is to protect and advocate people to plant trees, encourage people to care for trees, and remind people to value trees. Trees play a very important role in human survival and the ecological environment of the earth.

Professor Des from the Agricultural University in Kolkata, India, calculated the ecological value of a tree:

1. A 50-year-old tree has a cumulative oxygen value of about 31,200 US dollars;

2. Absorbing harmful gases and preventing air pollution is worth about US$62,500;

3. Increasing soil fertility is worth about US$31,200;

4. Conservation Water source worth US$37,500;

5. Providing a breeding ground for birds and other animals worth US$31,250;

6. Producing protein worth US$2,500,

7 , with a total value of approximately US$196,000.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Arbor Day