(Article originally appeared in the National Association of Conservation Districts' Forestry Notes e-newsletter)

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) are government entities with a unique responsibility to protect the state’s natural resources. The boundaries of the 23 NRDs are based on the major river basins in Nebraska, which allows them to respond to local conservation and resource management needs. NRDs throughout the state work with landowners and partners to construct projects, implement programs, and enact regulations to safeguard natural resources. Although they share similar responsibilities, each NRD has its own priorities and programs tailored to protect Nebraska’s natural resources.

Groundwater management, flood protection, and conservation trees are some of the recognizable NRD programs. To achieve their mission of protecting lives, property, and the future, several NRDs collaborate with the Nebraska Forest Service, which provides full-time, co-funded foresters to help landowners establish windbreaks and offer forestry programs to surrounding communities. Every year, NRDs help communities and landowners plant more than 700,000 trees, which provide numerous benefits including soil erosion reduction, crop and livestock protection, food and cover for wildlife, noise buffering, valuable products, and aesthetic beauty. Last spring, the NRD Conservation Tree Program celebrated a major milestone by planting their 100 millionth tree — that’s approximately 50 trees for each Nebraskan. “Nebraska has a proud history of planting trees and putting the 100 millionth tree in the ground reflects Nebraskans’ willingness to invest in the future,” said Dr. Orval Gigstad, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts president. “Our tree planting success is owed to the forward-thinking vision of landowners.”

Every fall, the NRDs recognize a Tree Planter of the Year, landowners that embody the spirit of the program and the importance of tree planting in the state. In 2022, this distinction was awarded to Dennis and Teri Taylor of Newport, Nebraska. During an average year they plant around 1,000 trees whether replacing lost trees or adding along a creek for additional livestock protection. More than 20 shelter belts have been added over the past 50 years, which are now an important part of their cow/calf and yearling operation. The trees are critical to their calving season survival rate and provide shelter. The primary reason for the windbreaks is livestock protection, but the Taylors have noticed the windbreaks shield the sandy soil greatly reducing erosion. The windbreaks also offer an excellent place for wildlife to find food and protection. The Taylors are passing on the importance of trees and how to properly plant and care for them to their grandchildren, who are sixth generation on the ranch.

The Natural Resources Districts in Nebraska, along with their partners, have been working for more than 50 years to protect the state’s natural resources, including planting millions of trees. The NRD Conservation Tree Program’s success is a testament to working hand-in-hand with conservation partners to support landowners like Dennis and Teri Taylor, who continue to teach their grandchildren the importance of conservation trees. Through these efforts, Nebraska remains a state with a proud history of tree planting and investing in the future.

You can learn more about the Nebraska NRDs and their available programs here, https://www.nrdnet.org/nrds.

Locate your own Soil and Water Conservation District here, https://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/conservation-district-directory/.