Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers speaks at a 2025 Forest Appreciation Week and Arbor Day tree-planting event in Green Bay. The governor assisted in the planting of 15 large shade trees as part of Wisconsin’s participation in the Trillion Trees Pledge. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Forest Health Outreach and Communications
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov; 608-335-0167

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers didn’t have to go out on a limb to make this announcement.

By issuing a Governor’s Proclamation this week, Gov. Evers has shined a spotlight on Wisconsin’s 17 million acres of forestland. His announcement officially recognizes Wisconsin’s participation in Forest Appreciation Week and Arbor Day.

“Wisconsin’s trees and forests are among the state’s most beautiful and critical natural resources,” Gov. Evers wrote, “and educating kids, families and communities about sustainable forestry is vital to their long-term conservation.”

Individuals, groups and organizations statewide are busy planning multiple observances acknowledging the value of trees to Wisconsin’s ecology, economy, health and way of life:

• Earth Day: Wednesday, April 22
• Arbor Day: Friday, April 24
• Forest Appreciation Week: Monday-Friday, April 20-24

Nearly half of Wisconsin’s land is covered by forests or urban trees. The state is home to about 11.5 billion trees. That’s more than 1,900 trees for each of Wisconsin’s 5.9 million residents. But Wisconsin’s forests could always use a few million more, because all those trees augment the lives of Wisconsin residents and visitors in many ways:

• Safeguarding water resources
• Creating homes and food for wildlife
• Supporting the forest industry and local economies
• Offering a diverse set 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

Gov. Evers’ Proclamation emphasized the value of Wisconsin’s trees and forests and the importance of practicing good stewardship of the forest resource.

“[W]isconsin’s trees and forests are among the state’s most beautiful and critical natural resources, and educating kids, families and communities about sustainable forestry is vital to their long-term conservation.”

Gov. Evers often takes time on Arbor Day to grab a shovel himself to plant a tree. He urges every Wisconsin resident to join him in some way to observe the day.

“[T]his Arbor Day and Forest Appreciation Week, the state of Wisconsin encourages all Wisconsinites to spend time outdoors, plant and care for trees, and show gratitude toward the professionals who dedicate their time to caring for the state’s trees and forests.

Trillion Tree Pledge On Track

A group of children in Cedarburg gathers to plant a tree as part of an Arbor Day observance. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

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 protect forest lands from development.

In 2024, Gov. Tony Evers and the DNR increased the state’s promise to the worldwide Trillion Tree Pledge by 33 percent, saying that 100 million trees will be planted in Wisconsin by the end of 2030. Last year, Wisconsinites planted about 12 million trees across the state and conserved more than 7,000 acres of forestland in the process.

Wisconsin’s urban communities also recognize the benefits of trees and forests. In his Proclamation, Gov. Evers recognized that Wisconsin boasts the third-highest number of Tree City USA communities in the nation, with 196 Wisconsin communities holding official Tree City USA status.

In his Proclamation, Gov. Evers also noted that the DNR donated more than 54,000 tree seedlings to fourth-grade classrooms across Wisconsin to celebrate Arbor Day, helping students learn about the importance of trees.

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 provide healthy and sustainable urban and rural forests that support strong and resilient communities.

As Gov. Evers wrote in his Proclamation: “Forest Appreciation Week is a time to acknowledge Wisconsin’s trees and forests for their importance to the state’s environment, economy, public health and collective identity.”

The Wisconsin DNR offers online information to homeowners interested in caring for trees in their neighborhood, a guide to planting or transplanting trees in urban settings, and ways to volunteer in support of Wisconsin’s outdoor bounty.