LINCOLN, Neb — Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts marked Arbor Day with a ceremonial tree planting on the grounds of the Nebraska State Capitol, highlighting decades of conservation work and a growing public-private effort to expand tree planting statewide.
Joined by guests including Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly and representatives from the Nebraska Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, PlantNebraska and the Arbor Day Foundation, the districts planted a New Horizon Elm on the west lawn of the Capitol.
“Planting trees is an investment in Nebraska’s future—protecting natural resources, supporting our agricultural heritage, and strengthening communities,” said John Yoakum, director for the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts representing the Lower Platte South NRD. “We’re proud to partner with organizations to bring lasting conservation benefits to communities across the state.”
Yoakum said partnerships with the Nebraska Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Executive Travel play a key role in expanding NRD conservation efforts statewide.
In December 2021, Executive Travel announced a partnership with Nebraska’s NRDs to plant a tree for every plane ticket sold through the ETGreen campaign. More than 206,000 trees have been planted through that partnership to date.
The New Horizon Elm was selected to reflect the original landscape vision developed by Ernst Herminghaus, Nebraska’s first professionally trained landscape architect, who designed the Capitol grounds to complement the character of the building. For nearly 30 years, the Capitol Commission has replanted trees in designated locations to stay true to the nearly 90-year-old landscape plan. The New Horizon Elm is intended to carry that legacy forward, offering the same aesthetic qualities as the original elms while providing resistance to Dutch elm disease.
Nebraska’s NRDs, created in 1972, have long planted conservation trees and shrubs for windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife habitat and other conservation purposes. Over the past 54 years, the NRDs have planted more than 102 million trees.
Tree program services vary by district, but can include planting, weed barrier installation or weed control, and drip irrigation. Information on cost-share availability, designing a plan or ordering trees is available through local NRDs and at www.nrdtrees.org.
The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, the trade association for Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts, works with individual districts to protect lives, property and Nebraska’s natural resources. NRDs are unique to Nebraska and serve as local government entities with broad responsibilities for natural resource protection.
Leave a comment