News

WHY PLANT CONSERVATION TREES?

The first Nebraskan settlers realized the value of trees. They planted millions of trees on barren homesteads to help fulfill their basic needs for protection, building material, fuel, and food. Planting trees became a Nebraska tradition and Nebraska proudly became known as “The Tree Planter State”.  Today, all Nebraskans benefit from the trees planted by our forefathers.

Trees continue to be an important part of Nebraska’s landscape. It is estimated there is a need to annually plant about 6 million trees in Nebraska.  A shelter belt planting can provide multiple benefits including:

• Environment: Helpful in carbon removal, returns oxygen to the atmosphere.
• Crop Protection: Protects crops against drought by providing protection from wind and heavy rain.   
• Livestock Protection: Reduces stress on livestock during heat and winter storms.
• Wildlife Habitat: Provides over-winter refuges, nesting sites and pollen and nectar feeding sources and protects other habitat. 
• Soil Conservation: Creates natural barriers that protect soil and crops
• Water Quality: A cover of trees and shrubs minimizes soil erosion, stabilizes stream banks in riparian areas, and removes soil contaminants.
• Food: Many trees and shrubs are a valuable source of fruit and nuts for humans and animals.
• Water Management: Can reduce surface water runoff and pollution to the streams.

If you are interested in planting trees you can order seedlings in bundles of 25 from LCNRD. Order forms are available by contacting LCNRD at 402-254-6758 or at lcnrd.nebraska.gov/forestry. For information on developing a conservation tree plan contact your local NRCS office.