New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today announced the state awarded $280,000 in Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grants for urban forestry projects to small and large communities across New York.

The Urban Forestry grants are part of New York’s ongoing initiatives to address climate change and environmental justice. The projects target local environmental needs and can truly benefit the community and the environment, including watershed protection.

“Urban forestry programs are vital in promoting clean air, clean water, energy savings, habitat creation and an improved quality of life for New York residents,” Commissioner Martens said. “The grants announced today, made possible under Governor Cuomo’s increased allocations to the Environmental Protection Fund, will help improve the environment and economic conditions across the state.”

The project winners for this round of the 2014 grants were selected from 145 applications scored competitively. Earlier this year, the state awarded nearly $800,000, bringing the total for urban forestry projects awarded in 2014 to more than $1 million. The 2014-15 State Budget includes $162 million for the EPF, an increase of $9 million from 2013-14.

The DEC Urban and Community Forestry Program provides technical assistance to communities through local DEC Urban Foresters and ReLeaf volunteers.

A list of grant recipients can be found below. Projects include one for reforestation in areas affected by Superstorm Sandy and another to restore forest canopy lost to invasive species such as the Emerald Ash Borer or the Asian Long Horned Beetle.

Erie County
Buffalo Olmstead Parks Conservancy $50,000
Tree Planting

Nassau County
Town of Oyster Bay 33,461
Tree Planting

Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre $21,740
Tree Planting

New York County
New York Restoration Project $47,950
Tree Planting

Onondaga County
Village of Jordan 2,600
Tree Inventory

Queens County
Queens Botanical Garden $50,000
Tree Inventory

Rensselaer County
City of Troy $25,000
Tree Planting

Schenectady County
ReTree Schenectady $20,000
Tree Planting

Tompkins County
City of Ithaca $ 5,450
Tree Planting

Warren County
Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District $24,990
County Wide Tree Inventories

News release by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.