22 April – International Mother Earth Day. The purpose of the observance is to encourage humanity to treat the vulnerable environment and planet Earth with the necessary understanding and respect. On the initiative of Bulgaria, Earth Day was celebrated for the first time in 1930.
Earth Day was celebrated for the first time in Bulgaria on 14 December 1930 on the initiative of the then Minister of Agriculture and State Property Grigor Vasilev. The initiative enjoyed broad support from other Ministers of Agriculture from across Europe. The celebration of Bulgarian Land gave the organizers grounds to take the initiative for the establishment of an International Earth Day. This idea received strong support from the Chairman of the International Agricultural Institute in Rome – De Michelis.
In 1990 the celebration of our planet was declared international, and Bulgaria joined its observance in 1993. The aim is to unite the people of the planet in defence of the environment.
This year’s motto is “Trees for the Planet Earth. Let us plant them.” Increasing the number of trees worldwide is the first of the five leading objectives undertaken at the start of the countdown in honour of the forthcoming 50th anniversary. One of the most ambitious is to plant 7.8 billion trees. The organized initiatives will have a significant and measurable impact on the Earth and will serve as a basis for ensuring a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet for all.
Trees help in combating climate change.
They absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Within one year, about 4 decares of afforested trees absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide as is produced by a car that has travelled 26,000 miles (~ 42,000 km).
Trees help us breathe clean air.
Trees absorb odours and harmful gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulphur dioxide and ozone) and filter fine particulate matter from the air by trapping it on their leaves and bark.
Trees help communities to achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability by providing food, energy and income.
The Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water actively participate in initiatives dedicated to this day.
