The Tree Planting Day was first initiated by the state of Nebraska in the United States. Before the 19th century, Nebraska was a barren wasteland with few trees and dry land. When strong winds blew, dust filled the sky, causing great hardship for the people. In 1872, the famous American agronomist Julius Sterling Morton proposed that Nebraska establish a Tree Planting Day, mobilizing the people to plant trees in an organized manner.

At that time, the State Agricultural Bureau adopted this proposal through a resolution, and the governor personally designated the third Wednesday of every April as Tree Planting Day. After this decision was made, over a million trees were planted in that year. In the following 16 years, more than 600 million trees were planted, eventually transforming 100,000 hectares of wasteland into dense forests. To honor Morton's achievements, the state legislature officially established April 22, Morton's birthday, as the annual Tree Planting Day and granted a day off.

In the United States, Tree Planting Day is a state-recognized holiday, and there is no nationally unified date. However, during April and May each year, all states organize Tree Planting Day activities. For example, Rhode Island sets the second Friday of every May as Tree Planting Day and grants a day off. Other states have either fixed dates or determine the Tree Planting Day annually by the governor or other state government departments. On the arrival of Tree Planting Day, a large group of people, mainly students, join the public in carrying out tree planting activities.

Today, the United States has rows of trees and shaded roads. According to statistics, one-third of the country's area is covered by forests and trees. This achievement is inseparable from the Tree Planting Day.

The history of afforestation in China can be traced back 3,000 years. However, afforestation and the development of forestry became a strategic task of national construction only after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and it became a legal obligation for citizens starting from the beginning of the reform and opening-up period.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Party and the state have attached great importance to greening construction. In the mid-1950s, Mao called on "greening the motherland" and "realizing a garden-like country." In 1956, China launched its first "12-year greening campaign." On February 23, 1979, at the sixth session of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress, according to the proposal of the State Council, in order to mobilize the people of all ethnic groups to plant trees and accelerate the greening of the motherland, it was decided that March 12 would be the national Tree Planting Day every year.