UTICA — The cities of Syracuse and Utica will benefit from some of more than $25 million in grants from American Forests, the oldest national conservation organization in the United States. The funding comes from $50 million that American Forests received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program. “This […]
UTICA — The cities of Syracuse and Utica will benefit from some of more than $25 million in grants from American Forests, the oldest national conservation organization in the United States. The funding comes from $50 million that American Forests received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program. “This first round of Catalyst Fund grants comes just after another summer of record temperatures felt across the country,” American Forests President/CEO Jad Daley said in a news release. “Extreme heat is killing more people in the U.S. than any other type of severe weather and tree equity presents a practical solution to address it. We are excited to work alongside these community leaders to provide much needed cooling relief and climate justice to some of our most vulnerable populations through critical tree infrastructure.” The Tree Equity Catalyst Fund is a key part of American Forests’ goal to help at least 100 cities boost their urban forests through tree planning and planting, nursery development, community engagement, and workforce development. Each of the 33 municipalities and three community-based organizations received grants ranging from $100,000 to $2 million to support their initiatives. Recipients include Onondaga Earth Corps in Syracuse and Olmsted City in Utica. Olmsted City, which received more than $338,000, has plans to revitalize F.T. Proctor Park with tree planting, nature-based water management, invasive-species management, and more. “American Forests is proud to support these cities and organizations and provide them with the funding and tools necessary to drive community action toward equitable tree canopy in their communities,” Tree Equity Chief Program Officer Benita Hussain said. “From tackling extreme heat to reducing air pollution, tree canopy is essential for healthy, thriving communities.” American Forests will launch its next round of funding early in the fall with an additional $12 million. Founded in 1875, the organization’s mission is to create healthy and resilient forests that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife.