ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today, the USDA Forest Service is investing more than $1 billion in disadvantaged urban communities by supporting work to increase access to trees and the social, health, and economic benefits they provide. Of the total funding, the Forest Service is allocating $6 million directly to Arizona and $1,875,000 directly to New Mexico to bolster competitive subgrants, support state projects, provide technical assistance, and assist states with other related services. Key partners include the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Arizona Community Tree Council, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) Forestry Division, and Tree New Mexico.
“Investing in our urban forests is investing in the health and wellness of our communities,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “Trees provide numerous benefits, like improving air quality, reducing stormwater runoff, providing shade, creating safe outdoor spaces for recreation, and stimulating other kinds of investments. Equitable access to these benefits is key, as everyone deserves the opportunity to live in a healthy and sustainable environment.”
Beyond providing funding directly to state and territory forestry agencies, the Forest Service is making up to $1 billion available as competitive grants to communitybased organizations, tribes, state and municipal governments, non-profit partners, universities, and other eligible entities that are working to increase tree cover in urban spaces and boost equitable access to nature.
The agency will invest in proposals that extend beyond planting new trees and encourages proposals that include maintaining and managing urban forests, added community engagement in local urban forest planning, and improved community and urban forest resilience to climate change, extreme heat, forest pests and diseases, and storm events.
“With global temperatures on the rise and extreme heat conditions in many parts of the Southwest, it is more important than ever to ensure equitable access to green spaces in urban centers and tribal communities,” said USDA Forest Service Southwestern Regional Forester Michiko Martin. “We know trees improve overall health. By investing in our urban and community forests, we invest in the health and wellness of disadvantaged communities throughout the region.”
The final funding amount for these competitive grants will depend on the total funding requested from proposals and their potential impact on disadvantaged communities. The open application period extends from April 12 to June 1, 2023, at 11:59 pm EDT. For more information, visit the Forest Service urban forests webpage.
The funding, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, is part of a $1.5 billion investment in the Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to help communities perform tree inventories, prepare management plans and policies, and to train staff and community residents to plan and care for trees.
This funding aligns with and supports the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution. Tribes, community-based non-profit organizations, state and local agencies, public colleges and universities, and other organizations are eligible to apply for Urban and Community Forestry grants.
The Forest Service supports vibrant and healthy urban communities through supporting healthy urban forests. For information on how to apply for federal Urban and Community Forestry grants, visit the Forest Service website, or grants.gov using the opportunity number USDA-FS-2023UCF-IRA-01. For more information on funding to states and territories, visit the state allocations webpage. To learn how to apply for state or territory-administered subgrants, contact local state forestry agencies.