LINCOLN, Nebraska – Joined by esteemed guests including Governor Jim Pillen and representatives from the Nebraska Forest Service, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, and Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) celebrated Arbor Day by planting an American Linden on the southwest lawn of the Nebraska State Capitol.

“Planting trees is an investment in Nebraska’s future—one that protects our natural resources, supports our agricultural heritage, and strengthens our communities,” said John Yoakum, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts director representing the Lower Platte South NRD. “We’re proud to work alongside dedicated partners to bring lasting conservation benefits to every corner of the state.”

Yoakum was joined by Steve Glenn, Executive Travel chairman. In December 2021, Executive Travel announced a partnership with Nebraska’s NRDs to plant a tree for every plane ticket they sell through the ETGreen campaign. To date, more than 161,000 trees have been planted through the partnership. And in 2025, Executive Travel committed an additional $50,000 for tree planting.

“When Executive Travel was building the ETGreen initiative, we wanted to partner with a local organization dedicated to a sustainable future and a beautiful Nebraska,” said Glenn. “The NRDs serve a great network of local landowners who plant hundreds of thousands of trees annually.”

The choice of the American Linden aligns seamlessly with the original landscape plans developed by Ernst Herminghaus, Nebraska’s first professionally trained landscape architect, who designed the capitol landscape plan to enhance the character of the building as viewed from the site and beyond. Over the past 28 years, the Capitol Commission has diligently replanted the same species in their designated locations, in accordance with the landscape blueprint established nearly 90 years ago.

Yoakum noted that extreme weather events, diseases and invasive insects have impacted Nebraska’s tree population, making it vitally important to plant and maintain a diverse mix of tree species.

Since their inception in 1972, Nebraska’s NRDs have been planting conservation trees and shrubs for windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife habitat and other conservation purposes. In the past 53 years, Nebraska’s NRDs have planted more than 101 million trees.

Each NRD program varies, but possible tree program services include planting, weed barrier installation or weed control, and drip irrigation. For more information on cost share availability, designing a plan or ordering trees, contact your local NRD or visit www.nrdtrees.org.

Governor Jim Pillen and representatives from Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts, Nebraska Forest Service, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, Arbor Day Foundation, and Trinity Daycare celebrate Arbor Day by planting an American Linden on the southwest lawn of the Nebraska State Capitol.