Wednesday, February 19, 2003
|
Wednesday, February 19, 2003 |
Arbor Day in Fayette County this FridayGeorgians across the state will be celebrating Arbor Day this Friday, Feb. 21, by participating in activities in honor of the tree. Arbor Day began in Nebraska back in 1872, to stress the need to plant trees in areas bare of vegetation and eroding lands, and to beautify cities. Since then the idea and the celebration of the day has spread to all 50 states and in some foreign countries. In Georgia, some legislation was passed in 1890, but not until 1941 did the General Assembly set the date of the third Friday in February as Arbor Day in Georgia. Trees play a large role in our lives; there are the vast number of products derived from trees; and the benefits to our environment, cleaning the air we breathe and the water we drink, cooling the earth, curbing erosion, and providing forests for recreation and homes for wildlife. Forestry is Georgia's number-one industry, contributing $19.7 billion annually to the state's economy, employing more than 177,000 people statewide. So indeed, Georgians have something to celebrate come Arbor Day. Free literature on Arbor Day is available. The Georgia Forestry Commission sets aside the entire month of February to conduct Arbor Day related programs. Interested schools and civic groups should contact their county GFC office for more information. Call 770-227-5522 or 770-358-1459.
|
||