MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proud to join communities, organizations and individuals throughout the state in celebrating trees and forests during Forest Appreciation Week, which runs from April 21 to Arbor Day (April 25) and includes Earth Day (April 22).
Forest Appreciation Week is a time to reflect on the importance of urban and rural forests.
“Everyone has a role in ensuring that forests continue to serve a vital role in the ecological, cultural and economic health of our state, our local communities and our individual lives,” said Carmen Hardin, DNR Applied Forestry bureau director.
The 17 million acres of forests that cover nearly half of Wisconsin and the millions of urban trees provide many benefits, including:
- Safeguarding water resources
- Creating homes and food for wildlife
- Supporting the forest industry
- Offering a myriad of outdoor recreation opportunities
- Reducing energy consumption and soil erosion
- Providing natural beauty for stress relief
- Supporting human health
- Providing shade
- Mitigating impacts of the changing climate by trapping and storing carbon dioxide
To maintain these many benefits, we need to be good stewards of the forest resources.
In 2021, the State of Wisconsin made a tree planting and forest conservation pledge focusing on the stewardship of forests and trees in both rural and urban areas, addressing the equitable distribution of the urban tree canopy and committing to protecting forest lands from development. In 2024, Gov. Tony Evers and the DNR increased the state’s Trillion Trees Pledge planting goal from planting 75 million trees by the end of 2030 to planting 100 million trees by the end of 2030.
Wisconsin residents can participate in the pledge by:
- Planting trees and recording them on the Wisconsin tree planting map
- Caring for trees in their neighborhood
Wisconsin communities also recognize the benefits of urban forests, and Wisconsin has the third-highest number of Tree City USA communities in the nation. Learn which communities have earned this designation.
Students can also make a difference. This year, the DNR donated more than 54,000 tree seedlings to fourth-grade classrooms across Wisconsin to celebrate Arbor Day and help students learn about the importance of trees. The DNR also donated more than 500 seedlings to the Badgerland Council of the Girl Scouts of America to distribute at their Arbor Day event. Participants will receive credit toward badges by participating.
Additionally, the DNR’s reforestation program has supplied Wisconsin landowners with more than 1.6 billion seedlings since 1911.
These investments in tree planting and forest stewardship by communities, forest landowners and residents of all ages are key to ensuring that Wisconsin continues to have healthy and sustainable urban and rural forests that support strong and resilient communities.
Learn more about Wisconsin forestry programs.
