Ryan Staychock, a forester with Cornell Cooperative Extension, joined FLX Morning on Earth Day — April 22, 2025 — to reflect on the environmental movement’s origins, the significance of Arbor Day, and practical steps Finger Lakes residents can take to make a difference.
Staychock traced Earth Day’s roots back to 1970, when an estimated 20 million Americans took to the streets to protest the environmental damage wrought by roughly 150 years of industrial development. Watershed moments like the Love Canal disaster in Niagara Falls, he said, helped galvanize the public and ultimately led to landmark legislation signed by President Richard Nixon — including the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Education Act — all passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
“Earth Day is every day,” Staychock said, “especially for our agricultural community and people that enjoy fresh air, clean water, and clean soil.” He noted that the Finger Lakes region is particularly fortunate in that regard, with clean lakes, productive farmland, and air quality that rivals few other places he’s lived, including Colorado.
Staychock also highlighted Arbor Day, celebrated this Friday, April 25, as a companion observance to Earth Day. The holiday dates back to 1872, when a Nebraska man named Sterling Morton inspired the planting of over one million trees — without the internet, Staychock quipped. He encouraged residents to mark the occasion by planting trees of their own.
For Cayuga County residents specifically, the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District is running a spring tree seedling sale through Tuesday, April 29. Residents can visit the Cayuga County website to place an order or learn about an upcoming pop-up sale day. Other counties have their own soil and water conservation districts with similar programs.
Beyond planting trees, Staychock encouraged listeners to recycle properly — keeping tanglers like plastic bags and hoses out of curbside bins — reduce energy use, clean and dry boats when moving between lakes to prevent invasive species spread, support the circular economy by purchasing recycled products, and get involved locally through groups like the Lake Friendly Living Coalition or Cornell Cooperative Extension’s master gardener, master forest owner, or master composter programs.