Ten trees planted during Project Impact

For the 43rd annual Project Impact last week, one group stayed on campus. As their friends and classmates spread out across Lincoln to serve the community, they served future Union Adventist University students by planting trees. 

A gift of the Nebraska Forest Service, the ten new additions to Union’s Joshua C. Turner Arboretum are:

• 2 pecan trees
• 2 Kentucky coffee trees
• 1 sycamore
• 1 swamp oak
• 2 burr oaks
• 2 New Horizon elms

With the exception of the coffee trees, most of the species planted are favorite food sources for squirrels, ensuring a comfortable home for future generations of the campus’ treasured four-legged residents. 

While five of the species were already present in the campus ecosystem, these are the first examples of New Horizon elms at Union. The cold-tolerant cultivar was created by the University of Wisconsin to resist Dutch elm disease. A different disease-resistant cultivar, the Princeton elm, was among the fourteen trees planted last year.  

“There’s a reason every college wants pictures of students studying under spreading branches in their brochures,” said Yami Bazan, university president. “Trees are a vital part of student life. They clean our air, mute the city noise, and provide cooling shade. I’m so grateful to the Nebraska Forest Service and Union’s Plant Services staff who care for this beautiful arboretum we call our campus.”

About the Ten Free Trees Program

In the home state of Arbor Day, Nebraskans understand the social, economic and environmental benefits of trees, and yet across the state, community forests have been in steady and sometimes dramatic decline. Many challenges, including extreme weather, insects, disease and lack of diversity contribute to the decline. The Emerald Ash borer is the latest major challenge added to the list.

To turn the tide and increase community forest resilience, the Free Trees program grants up to 10 high-quality saplings for tree-related educational events and community celebrations promoting trees and fall planting.

In addition to simply planting more trees, the program’s goals include increasing appreciation and awareness of the value of community forests in Nebraska. Special emphasis is placed on species diversity and higher impact projects such as street tree planting and projects in neighborhoods of highest need.

Ten Free Trees is supported by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust, and a U.S. Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration grant received by the Nebraska Forest Service.