NEBRASKA CITY – The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum has awarded the Friends of Nebraska City Riverview Nature Park a community forestry grant that is expected to remove invasive species and open the way for a tree-planting campaign.

Briana Graham, president of the Nebraska City non-profit, said local volunteers have been busy this spring suppressing allelopathic trees that spread rapidly and produce biochemicals harmful to native plants. The group is gearing up to plant 50 new trees in the first year.

Graham: “As citizens of the Home of Arbor Day, we recognize the value of trees in parks and we are honored that Nebraska Statewide Arboretum sees the vision we have for our park and the multitude of benefits trees provide to Nebraska City and our wildlife.”

 

The $60,400 grant is among $10 million awarded to the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum in 2024 by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program.

Graham: “We intend to treat our invasive species, which are Tree of Heaven and Amor Honeysuckle, and physically remove those species and then replant with beneficial and native species to help our wildlife and help keep our forest healthy.”

Director Hanna Pinneo of the statewide arboretum said the grant to the Friends of Nebraska City Riverview Nature Park will profoundly impact the well-being of residents and the project will yield important, long-term results.

Graham: “In our towns we need to plant more trees because we’re not replanting at the rate we’re taking out trees. It’s important to keep the shade and the animals to have homes in our towns. Trees provide a multiple of benefits and we should plant more of them whether it’s in a forest like ours or in town in your yard.”

Graham said the statewide arboretum grant is a welcome boost for volunteers who are joining the cause for conserving and managing community forests.