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

Nassau County

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