Local Trees: Helping the Environment| Local

The NRDs standard cost-sharing programs are for trees. They typically use federal or state funding for large plantings. There are discounts available for smaller orders thanks to a new partnership with Executive Travel of Lincoln. These seedlings will be planted by cooperators, and not by the NRD machine planting service.

This allows us to offer a discount of about 25 cents on hand-plant orders that we are not normally able to cost-share with other programs we work with, explained North Central District Forester Rich Woollen.

According to a February 3, 2019 Lower Loup NRD press release the goal of the partnership to plant one,000,000 trees over five years through an ETGreen campaign is stated. According to the press release, this campaign was initiated in September 2021 in order to offset the carbon footprint of Executive Travels customers. ETGreen will plant 50,000 trees by 2022.

According to a press release, Executive Travel is partnering Nebraska’s 23 NRDs in order to help local landowners plant all of the one-million trees in Nebraska. The Lower Loup NRD covers 16 counties in Central Nebraska, Platte County included.

Woollen said that while other NRDs may offer similar incentives, each NRD is likely will take its own approach to disbursing the funds.

Woollen explained that if a person lives in the Lower Loup, and wishes to order seedlings, they should contact their local NRCS offices to find out what is available.

The trees will be sold in bundles of 25 trees per species and will come from Charles E. Bessey Nursery in Halsey, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Services Charles E. Bessey Nursery.

We have been allocated a specific amount of money so it will be like a first-come, first-served basis. Woollen stated that once the money is distributed, we won’t have the ability to offer the discount.

Steve Glenn (chairman of Executive Travel) noted the company’s excitement to partner on the program with the NRDs.

Glenn stated in a statement that we are demonstrating our commitment to address environmental concerns of our customers and team with our ETGreen campaign. Glenn explained that the campaign will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our travelers. The beauty of our communities is enhanced by the planting of trees. The NRDs work closely alongside farmers, ranchers, everyday Nebraskans, to plant hundreds of thousands affordable trees each year.

Jim Eschliman is vice chairman of Lower Loup NRD Board of Directors, and president of Nebraska Association of Resources Districts. He said that the partnership allows NRDs to plant more conservation trees in Nebraska.

Woollen stated that trees have a great benefit for all and that people will use the incentive programs to plant more trees.

For more information, call the Lower Loup NRD at (308-728-33221 or visit llnrd.org.