By Royalbroil – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikipedia image
(Tallahassee, FL/January 21, 2022)—Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service are celebrating Florida Arbor Day. Held annually on the third Friday of January, Florida Arbor Day is a time to highlight the many benefits that trees provide to our state’s economy, ecosystems, and communities. While Arbor Day is celebrated nationally in April, many states recognize a state Arbor Day to coincide with the local tree planting season.
“Florida has a variety of native tree species that play an important role in protecting our ecosystems. They not only make our neighborhoods more beautiful, but they can also reduce energy costs, store carbon, and help keep our air and water clean,” said Commissioner Fried. “I encourage all residents to get involved in community tree planting and help protect the natural Florida we love.”
“Trees are a significant part of Florida’s landscape and infrastructure, from those lining our community streets to working forests managed by landowners across the state,” said Erin Albury, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. “We are proud to work with partners like the Arbor Day Foundation to ensure that these valuable resources remain available for generations to come.”
Florida is home to 176 Tree City USA communities, a program sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation that recognizes cities, counties, and military bases for their proactive efforts to expand and actively manage their public tree canopy. To learn more about Tree City USA and Florida Arbor Day, visit FDACS.gov/UrbanForestry.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services