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Joel Felder is admiring a view that means more than 17 billion dollars to South Carolina.

"Forestry is a huge part of South Carolina's economy," says Felder.

Ask the forestry commission's deputy state forester, and he'll tell you few holidays measure up to arbor day's lasting economic and environmental impact.

"They help provide clean air. Clean water," says Felder. "They provide shade in urban areas to reduce that heat island effect in our cities."

The holiday dates back to 1870s nebraska... when pioneers planted trees to beautify their land.

Fast forward more than 100 years and each state celebrates a different date.

"Arbor day is an important holiday because it's sort of the start of our typical tree planting season in South Carolina," says Felder.

Felder reminds the public it's a good time to start preparing for the upcoming brush fire season, which peaks between February and March. The agency's stats show that even though mother nature contributes, people start 80 percent of those fires. But for Felder, this a holiday to pass on to south carolina's youth. He says it always provides lifelong memories.

"They can go back and say... ya know... I planted that tree... I think it just helps set an appreciation for those kinds of things."