Even as the trees are budding and preparing to cover the region with a lush, blanket of green, Western New Yorkers of every stripe are gearing up to celebrate Mother Earth and raise awareness about the challenges that face her.

Earth Day has been coming around every April 22 since 1970, when Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson set the date aside for an environmental teach-in. And that’s essentially what the day remains today—a day to focus on and learn about environmental challenges, and to celebrate the Earth’s bounty. Local events this year run the gamut from the proactive (hefting garbage bags, rakes and shovels) to the promoting active (envirostars giving speeches and fun, green-themed family activities).

Let’s start by getting our hands dirty. Winter’s over and the snow’s melted, revealing the accumulated trash of the past four months. Here some clean-up opportunities offered across the region over the next week or so:

■ This Saturday, April 19 is the annual Earth Day cleanup at Tifft Nature Preserve from 10am to 2pm. It’s not all work, though. The 264-acre wilderness preserve, located entirely within the City of Buffalo, is jam-packed with deer, migrating birds and small mammals to watch, and its meadering paths offer plenty of chances for contemplation and getting in touch with nature.

■ Another major cleanup effort is being led that day by Hands On Greater Buffalo and WNY Americorps. The day of service begins at 8am at the West Seneca Youth Bureau (2001 Union Road), where volunteers will meet before heading out to do cleanup work at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve and Gallagher Beach (were Congressman Brian Higgins promises to pitch in), in the Lovejoy, or “Iron Island,” district of Buffalo. Additionally, some volunteers will build an outdoor play area and plant trees at South Buffalo’s Trinity Catholic Academy. Info: handsongreaterbuffalo.org for volunteering info.

■ The Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center (4050 North St., Blasdell) is looking for volunteers to help improve the former quarry site that’s now preserved because of the 380 million year old Devonian era fossils that were exposed within the Windom Shale there. Info: penndixie.org.

■ Urban Roots Community Garden Center (428 Rhode Island St., Buffalo) would love a helping hand in cleaning up its expanded lot and the surrounding neighborhood on Sunday, April 20. There are three sessions to participate in: 10am-12pm, 12:30-2:30pm and 3-5pm. Info: urbanroots.org.

■ South Buffalo’s Cazenovia Park will get a much-needed spring cleaning on Tuesday, Earth Day itself, from 9am to 2pm. The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is seeking help with light pruning, tree planting, debris removal and other general clean up. Info: buffaloolmstedparks.org.

■ The envirostars will be shining locally throughout the week, too, starting with Ralph Nader next Friday, April 25. Nader, the internationally-known consumer and environmental advocate, perennial Presidential hopeful (in 2008, too!) and scapegoat, and all around firebrand, will appear at 7:30pm at SUNY Fredonia’s King Concert Hall. The title of his presentation is “Who is Eclipsing Solar Energy and Energy Efficient Technologies and What Can We Do About It?”

■ Local environmental champion Walter Simpson will no doubt be giving a speech or two this week, as he seeks to step down from his long-held position at UB’s environmental office, UB Green, this May. Among them is his presentation at SUNY Fredonia’s Jewet Hall on Monday (Apr. 21): “The Nature of Sustainability.” For more info on Earth Day events at Fredonia: fredonia.edu.

■ Speaking of Simpson’s retirement, a coalition of UB student groups is putting on a march to show their conern that UB hasn’t announced a qualified replacement. To show their concern for the university environmental efforts, the students have gathered over 1,000 petition signatures calling for a qualified replacement by next Fall. The march will begin at UB North’s Founders Plaza on Earth Day at 12:30pm.

■ There are several fairs and festivals planned to increase environmental awareness. Tomorrow (Apr. 18) the second annual EnviroFair will be held from 11am to 2pm Niagara Square in front of City Hall. Besides several booths and displays from groups like Buffalo Blue Bicycle, Sierra Club, Re-Tree WNY, and Buffalo Grassroots Gardens, there will also be giveaways that aid the planet! Those in attendance will receive free tree seedlings from Americorps and Wal-Mart; the first 500 people will be given reusable Wal-Mart shopping bags made from recycled material; Home Depot is giving away one compact Fluorescent light (CFL) bulb to anybody who turns in recyclable computer equipment or signs a pledge to stay “eco-conscious”. Info: buffaloenvirofair.com.

■ The Buffalo Museum of Science (1020 Humboldt Parkway) is hosting a Clean Air/Clean Water Earth Day Forum tomorrow, sponsored by Senator Antoine Thompson, from 6 to 8pm. This event is a good follow-up to the fair. Go to both and you’ll have two free seedlings! Info: sciencebuff.org.

■ On Saturday (April 19), there’s an Earth Day Festival at the Center for Inquiry (3965 Rensch Road, Amherst) from 11am to 2pm that will include: a presentation about wildlife conservation by Nickel City Reptiles and Exotics; a presentation by the Village of Williamsville Environmental Committee on everyday ways to protect the environment; and a seedling and tree planting ceremony. Info: centerforinquiry.net.

■ Another Saturday Earth Day Festival is one hosted by the Buffalo Audubon Society in the Beaver Meadow Audubon Center (1610 Welch Rd., North Java). Beginning at 10am, there will be guided hikes, games, environmental education and crafts. Info: buffaloaudubon.com.

■ On Sunday (Apr. 20), the folks at Tifft will take a break and celebrate Saturday’s hard work with an Earth Day celebration from 10am to 4pm. Activities include fossil making, composting, creating crafts from recycled materials, taking part in a fossil fuel game and treasure hunt, and participating in an Earth Day raffle. Lots of green groups will be on-hand and Starbucks will provide coffee and pastries in the morning. Info: sciencebuff.org.

■ The Olmsted Parks Conservancy is looking to give the parks some more green, and needs help planting trees next Saturday (Apr. 26). They need volunteers in Cazenovia, Martin Luther King, Jr. and South Parks from 9am to noon. Info: buffaloolmstedparks.org.

■ One of the more interesting, and newest, Earth Day initiatives will take place on the day itself, April 22. Inspired by a Web site set up by the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC)—goodgoingwny.com—that encourages WNYers to find more environmentally-sound ways of getting around, Ecology and Environment, Inc. is leading the way on the Earth Day 2008 Initiative. The idea is to try and get people from companies and organizations across the region to get to work on Tuesday using alternative means of transportation, be it biking, carpooling, walking or using public transport. The initiative is huge, with over 240 companies and organizations representing well over 130,000 people committed to it. Info: goodgoingwny.com.

This is only an overview of Earth Day events. Be sure to take part in some of these activities and improve the community. Here’s a list of what else is going on:

■ Earth Day Initiative Rally in Niagara Square (4/22, 11:30a-1:30p)

■ JCC’s Earth Day Festival (4/23, 11:30a-1:30p)

■ Poet/Environmentalist Steve Lewandowski at the Olean Public Library (4/23, 7p)

■ Wellness Walk at Tifft Nature Preserve (4/24, 10a-noon)

■ Soil and Water Merit Badge at Tifft Nature Preserve (4/26, 9a-4p)

■ Computer and Electronics Recycling Collection at Central Park Plaza (4/26, 9a-1p)

■ Earth Day Events at Williamsville Village Meeting House (4/26, 1-4p)

■ Garden Day at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (4/27, noon-4p)