Crack out the birthday balloons – the Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry IRA grant program is officially a year old this week!
One year into this five-year transformative, $1 billion investment in expanding and protecting our urban forests, we’re seeing countless new voices joining the conversation and the rapid scaling of urban forestry programs across nearly every state.
These initiatives are making a difference by:
🌳 Battling climate change impacts like flooding and extreme heat
🌳 Boosting physical and mental health by creating safer outdoor places
🌳 Growing the green workforce to care for urban trees and green spaces
As a national passthrough partner working with the USDA Forest Service to ensure this funding hits the ground where it’s needed most, we’ve had the privilege of working with partners across the country to bring new voices to the table to advance tree equity, tackle climate change, and create healthier places to live, work and play.
Meet some of the #NewFacesofUrbanForestry who are shaping greener, healthier neighborhoods!
With support from the USDA Forest Service’s IRA Urban and Community Forestry program, Groundwork USA is working alongside awardees and Groundwork Trusts to engage residents in planting and caring for trees – and creating community stewardship networks to champion the long-term success of this investment. The first year of IRA funding has transformed our fight for tree equity! This support has energized our urban forestry initiatives, resulting in:
🌳 A surge of new team members joining urban forestry programs in Groundwork communities nationwide.
🌳 The growth of a trained cohort of Tree Ambassadors dedicated to the maintenance and care of new trees as they take root.
🌳 The expansion of proven tree equity strategies, like microforests, into new cities.
