Urban forests are trees for people, where they live, work and play, which includes natural resources on public and private property that contribute to quality of life, supports community development, green infrastructure, and provide a wealth of benefits to cities and towns.
The USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry (U&CF) Program is the only dedicated urban forest program in the federal government. It is a technical, financial, and educational assistance program delivers nature-based solutions to more than 84 percent of Americans. The program works in partnership to restore, sustain, and manage more than 140 million acres of urban and community forest lands for the benefit of communities in the United States. Healthy urban & community forests and green infrastructure are not only critical to all our nation’s forests, but research and studies have also shown that our urban and community forests are essential to the economic, environmental, physical, and mental well-being of our citizens.
Through the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the Forest Service is seeking proposals to address the National Ten Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026), (Action Plan) - Goal 4 and Goal 5 in the Ten Year Action Plan.
Deadline: Feb. 29, 2024
This year’s category addresses components of Goal 4 and Goal 5 in the Ten-Year Action Plan:
Goal 4 Strategy A: Action 1: Increase the biodiversity, health, and resilience of trees in urban and community forests.
Goal 5 Strategy A: Support the use of more locally grown, regionally adapted, insect and pestresistant, and diverse native or site-appropriate species. Action 1: Facilitate funding to promote planting higher quality trees in urban forests with less emphasis on the quantity of trees planted (such as the published International Society of Arboriculture guidelines).
Eligible Applicants: Non-profits, any U.S. State or Territory, educational institutions of higher learning, and federally recognized tribal organization that are operating within the United States or its territories. Local governments may apply if their proposal includes other local governments/eligible entities around the country. Private entities are not eligible but may be partners in the project.
Available Funding: Aligns with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116260), the U.S. Forest Service may provide approximately $1,000,000 (Based on availability of funding, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations.)
Matching Requirements: All grant funds are to be matched at least equally (dollar for dollar) with non- federal match, which may include in-kind donations, volunteer assistance, and private and public (non- federal) monetary contributions