The Forest Service plans to invest more than $1 billion in 385 projects to plant and maintain trees and other green space in urban areas across the country.
The funding, announced last week, targets areas where more than 84% of Americans reside, according to a USDA statement. All told, grants from the Urban and Community Forestry Program will touch all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several territories and tribal areas.
The grants provide funding to ensure that access to green spaces and trees in urban areas is readily available to better support city street cooling and improved air quality.
"These investments arrive as cities across the country experience recordbreaking heat waves that have grave impacts on public health, energy consumption, and overall well-being,” Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
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The Forest Service's funding will support tree planting in underserved areas and bring economic and environmental benefits to cities and tribal regions nationwide. Grantees used a geospatial mapping tool to identify disadvantaged communities and their climate, housing, pollution, transportation and workforce development challenges.
These grants were open to various entities, including community-based organizations, tribes, state and municipal governments, nonprofits, and universities.
In a statement, White House climate adviser John Podesta said the “landmark funding from the U.S. Forest Service will increase urban access to nature, improve air quality, keep city streets cool during sweltering summers, tackle the climate crisis, and create safer, healthier communities in every corner of America.”
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