Ten trees will soon take root at the Metropolitan Community College (mccneb.edu) South Omaha Campus, creating new green space and opportunities for students and the community to learn about urban forestry, sustainability and environmental stewardship.
PlantNebraska (formerly the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum) and the Nebraska Forest Service will provide the trees through the Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative. The initiative supports projects that strengthen community forests through species diversity, thoughtful site selection and long-term stewardship. Nebraska’s community forests have faced ongoing challenges due to extreme weather, insects, disease and lack of tree diversity.
Students in horticulture, environmental science and sustainability programs will be invited to participate in planting and monitoring the trees, gaining hands-on experience in urban forestry management.
Educational signage and outreach events with partners such as the City of Omaha Parks and Recreation Department are also planned as the new plantings become established.
The MCC Facilities Management team will oversee the trees’ long-term care, with maintenance protocols including annual inspections, soil-moisture monitoring and integrated pest management.
PlantNebraska’s Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative is funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the USDA Forest Service through grants received by both PlantNebraska and the Nebraska Forest Service.
For more information about MCC, visit mccneb.edu.