Earth Day

Earth Day, founded by J. Sterling Morton, was first celebrated in the 1940s. In 1872, J. Morton proposed setting aside one day a year for green plantings in the state of Nebraska, and on the first planting day, approximately one million trees were planted. The tree planting day was established by the Nebraska government as an official state holiday on April 22, 1882. Since 1970, the holiday has been called "Earth Day" and has become a symbol of awareness of the importance of environmental conservation, preserving it in its pristine state, and preventing the depletion of the planet's natural resources. Earth Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. If in 1970, 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day, now that number is ten times higher. Today, not only educational events such as exhibitions, lectures, and discussions are held, but also funds are raised to financially support protected natural areas.