The idea of setting aside a day to plant trees originated in the United States. In the 1800s, concern grew about rapid deforestation of the United States. It was Julius Sterling Morton, editor of the Nebraska City News, who persuaded his state to make 10 April 1872 a tree-planting holiday called "Arbor Day". The practice gradually spread to other states and today, most states in the United States observe Arbor Day on the last Friday in April.

For Cambodia, National Planting Day generally celebrates on July 9 to encourage a large participation by other components of the community in the management and planting of trees which will provide a variety of life- sustaining means as well as supporting development, economy and the society itself. Forestry resources are not only valuable economically, but also possess other values in regard to the environment, culture, history, tourism, and academic research.

However, on 30^th June 2008, Kampong Leng district authorities, under the supports of the Association of Buddhists for the Environment (ABE) and World Vision Organization, celebrated Tree Planting Day in Chup Mountain, Trangel commune, Kampong Leng district, Kampong Chhnang province. This ceremony was chaired by Mr. Cheng Ngan, Deputy provincial governor of Kampong Chhnang. There were totally 1012 participants (675 women) including monks, Achars, provincial and district officials, commune authorities, teachers, school children, villagers, environment youth groups and community forestry groups participated this event.  Tree Planting Day celebration accompanied with two main objectives; first was to raise local communities about preservation and protection of their natural resources, especially the forests; and second was to offer the medal to Venerable Hiek Sopheap, Executive Director of the Association of Buddhists for the Environment, for his excellent commitment and participation in developing Kampong Leng district of Kampong Chhnang province.

After the district governor, Deputy Director of provincial department of Environment, and Director of provincial Forest Administration’ s speeches, Ven. Hiek Sopheap was invited to chant to the participants. In his speech, Ven. Sopheap clarified that monks have not only one role in spreading the Buddha’s Dharma, but also participate in any social activities. He additionally, mentioned the importance of the forests by giving very easy and simple examples to gain better understanding of the participants on forest conservation. “Just answer to my question! What are sitting under to get shade?   Yes the tree!  You see! Just only one tree can provide shade to almost twenty people, what about more trees? And imagine if you buy umbrellas to get the shade at this time! How much do you all spend to buy them?  It must be a lot of money! You all see the importance of the trees? Forest can clean the air and provide, foods, herbs, shelters to human beings and animals. When deforestation occurs, animals loose all of these basic needs and since it may be difficult for them to find new habitat, they may die. When deforestation occurs when the trees are cut down and the forest is destroyed, we, human beings, will face a lot of troubles and loose those basic needs as well as! We do need forests since we were born, actually! In Buddha dharma, if you plant one tree, you will get one merit. Therefore, in this amazing day, I would like to see our participants, including myself; plant at least three trees in our mountain campus! Said, Venerable Hiek Sopheap. Venerable finally wrapped up this speech by spreading more and more messages of forest conservation.

 During the ceremony, Venerable Hiek Sopheap was offer medal by Deputy Governor of Kampang Chhnang province for his commitment and active participation developing Kampong Leng district of Kampong Chhnang province. ABE, under the sponsorship of GEF Small Grants Programme, UNDP, started its project in Kampong Leng district by educating local villagers and stakeholders through pagodas and other conservation activities since July 2007.

 To end up the ceremony, Mr. Cheng Ngan, Deputy provincial governor of Kampong Chhnang and other delegations, planted trees as model for participants. 5,000 trees were planted by monks, environmental youth groups, community forestry group, villagers, teachers and school children in Chup mountain campus. Furthermore, ABE has distributed 150 T-shirts which contains of message of forest conservation, to environmental youth groups and villagers

With purpose of gaining the local villager’s feeling towards this Tree Planting Day, we discussed with one of our participants who were sitting and listening to the speech during the event. Mr. Hong Vanny, Mr, a villager of Kampong Boeung, Kampong Hav commune, Kampong Leng, Kampong Chhnang province said happily that  “I fully understand about environmental issues around my community, after I participated and listening our quest speakers about the importance of our local resources, during  the tree planting ceremony. From now on, I must deeply attend the tree planting day and other conservation activities, in order to protect our natural resources so that they will sustain for our next generations.”