Trees & Wildlife Habitat
Nebraska has a proud history of planting trees. Arbor Day, an international holiday, was born here.
Nebraska was a national leader in planting trees during the Dust Bowl Era of the 1930's. The NRD Conservation Tree Program helps landowners plant more than a million trees each year in Nebraska.
Trees benefit both people and animals. They shade and shelter homes, reduce soil erosion, protect crops and livestock, provide homes for wildlife, control noise, provide us with food and lumber and add beauty to our landscape. The Conservation Trees for Nebraska Program is used by the districts to plant trees for landowners and provide help in controlling weeds that compete for water. Many districts will share the cost with the landowner as funds are available.
The Wild Nebraska Program pays landowners to set aside land for wildlife. WNP is a cooperative effort between the NRDs and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to establish habitat for Nebraska's wildlife. WHP is similar to the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) however the WHP is more flexible in that it allows cooperators to choose among different wildlife management practices that are better suited for their land.