Arbor Day in Nicaragua is observed every last Friday of June and was officially established by the government in 1971, although its origins date back to 1929 when June 1 was designated to honor Nicaraguan forests. The day highlights the importance of the country's extensive rainforests, particularly La Mosquita, which is the largest rainforest north of the Amazon. Deforestation poses a significant environmental challenge in Nicaragua, driven by land development, cattle grazing, commercial logging, mining, and forest fires. In response, the Nicaraguan government has imposed restrictions on lumbering and implemented measures to combat deforestation. On Arbor Day, various ministries and institutions related to the environment, forestry, agriculture, and education organize events and activities, including extensive tree planting campaigns where citizens plant thousands of saplings in parks, public squares, schoolyards, and along streets.