Every year on the last Sunday in July, Australians come together to celebrate National Tree Day, the country’s largest community tree-planting and nature care event. Established in 1996, this green holiday has seen communities plant nearly 26 million trees, a remarkable contribution to the nation’s environmental health and a powerful symbol of collective action.
The Roots of Arbor Day
The tradition of dedicating a day to planting and celebrating trees has a long and fascinating history. The first documented arbor plantation festival took place in 1594 in the Spanish village of Mondoñedo. Over two centuries later, in 1805, a Spanish priest named Don Juan Abern Samtrés organized a three-day tree-planting festival on Carnival Tuesday in the village of Villanueva de la Sierra, planting the first tree himself and encouraging neighboring villages to follow suit.
The idea spread to America, with the first U.S. Arbor Day celebrated in Nebraska in 1872. From there, it branched out to Japan, Australia, Canada, and Europe, thanks in large part to the efforts of Connecticut-based Birdsey Northrop, who became a global ambassador for the Arbor Day movement.
Australia Embraces National Tree Day
Australia’s first Arbor Day was celebrated on June 20, 1889. However, it wasn’t until 1996 that the country took the concept to the next level with the establishment of National Tree Day. Since then, the event has grown into a massive celebration of nature, with hundreds of thousands of volunteers planting trees, cleaning up green spaces, and learning about the vital role of trees in our ecosystems.
Organized by Planet Ark Environmental Foundation, National Tree Day isn’t just about planting saplings—it’s about educating Australians young and old about the world around them. Schools get involved too, with a dedicated School Tree Day taking place on the Friday before the main event.
Why Trees Matter
So why all this fuss about trees? The answer lies in their incredible environmental benefits. Trees act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing and storing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. A single mature tree can absorb nearly 70 times more carbon than a newly planted sapling, making the preservation of older trees just as important as planting new ones.
Beyond carbon capture, trees also help to lower air temperatures through evaporative cooling, improve water quality by filtering rainwater, prevent soil erosion, and provide vital habitats for countless species. And of course, they offer immense recreational, aesthetic, and even economic value to human communities.
How to Get Involved
Ready to branch out and join the National Tree Day celebration? Here are a few ways to get started:
Join a Planting Event
Visit the official National Tree Day website to find a planting event near you, or organize your own with friends and family.
Donate to the Seedling Bank
Support Planet Ark’s Seedling Bank, which provides funding for seedlings in areas where they’re needed most.
Clean Up Your Community
National Tree Day isn’t just about planting—it’s about caring for nature in all forms. Organize a clean-up of your local park or green space to help trees thrive.
However you choose to celebrate, National Tree Day is a reminder of the vital role we all play in nurturing and sustaining the natural world. So let’s dig deep, branch out, and plant the seeds of a greener future together.