MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address celebrating Earth Day and Earth Week and highlighting his announcement that the state has increased its Trillion Trees Pledge planting goal from planting 75 million trees by the end of 2030 to planting 100 million trees by the end of 2030.

This week, Gov. Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also released the Wisconsin Trillion Trees Pledge 2023 Annual Report, which shows Wisconsin has planted more than 32 million trees since Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #112 in 2021 committing Wisconsin to the Trillion Trees Pledge, bringing the state more than 40 percent towards its goal just three years into the pledge. More information regarding the governor’s Trillion Trees Pledge Earth Day announcement is available here.

Audio File of Radio Address.

Hey there, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.  

This week, we celebrated Earth Day, which was started by Wisconsinite and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson more than 50 years ago.  

From Indigenous communities to farmers to our hunters and anglers, protecting our planet and conserving our valuable natural resources is a part of who we are as Wisconsinites.  

Three years ago, I was proud to have our state join the global Trillion Trees Pledge, pledging to plant 75 million trees and conserve 125,000 acres of forestland by the end of 2030.  

Well, folks, we’re only three years in, and guess what, Wisconsin? We’re not only well on our way to our goal – we’re crushing it. 

With the finalization of the Pelican River Forest Conservation Easement, we’re over halfway to our forestland conservation goals.  

And we are more than 40 percent to our tree planting goal with more than six years left to go. 

Together, with students, public and private organizations, and state agencies across the state, we’ve planted more than 32 million trees, in urban and rural communities statewide.  

So, on Earth Day, I signed an executive order to increase our goal to 100 million trees by the end of 2030.

With this new goal, we’ll be able to store and exchange a total of 4.8 billion pounds of carbon dioxide a year through trees planted alone.  

Folks, when you combine Wisconsinites’ “can-do” spirit, work ethic, and our shared values of conservation and preservation of our vast, valuable natural resources, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish. So, let’s get planting! 

Happy Earth Day, Wisconsin!