GreenLatinos 'Sustainable Cities Urban Greenspace' Initiative (via USDA Urban and Community Forestry Grant)

GreenLatinos 'Sustainable Cities Urban Greenspace' Initiative (via USDA Urban and Community Forestry Grant) is sponsored by USDA Forest Service (via GreenLatinos). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Urban & Community Forestry Program - GreenLatinos Urban & Community Forestry Program Funding for this program is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program.

GreenLatinos’ Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program seeks to promote tree equity in historically underserved and underrepresented communities, with a focus on engaging these communities to collaborate with municipalities and CBOs to address tree planting and maintenance, restoration and resilience, urban forestry workforce development, and the expansion of urban tree canopy to combat extreme heat.

GreenLatinos is honored to partner with American Forests, Groundwork USA and 1890 Universities Foundation to form the Tree Equity Alliance , to help break down barriers to tree equity in disadvantaged communities. In 2023, GreenLatinos was selected by the Forest Service as one of twelve (12) national pass-through partners to administer $20 million in USDA IRA UCF funding to municipalities and CBOs in several states.

GreenLatinos has already awarded $11. 5 million to 18 municipalities in California and Illinois, and is working closely with these municipalities to ensure participation from disadvantaged communities in their urban forestry planning, tree planting and maintenance, and urban forestry workforce development programs.

GreenLatinos is currently reviewing applications for its Trees in Your Community Grant Program, the deadline for which has since passed. An additional $8. 5 million in federal funding will be awarded to CBOs in various states and territories .

GreenLatinos is also accepting applications for its Request for Proposals on " Professional Services in Urban & Community Forestry. " This RFP is specifically for subject matter experts in Urban and Community Forestry who are able to provide ongoing technical assistance to GreenLatinos' USDA IRA UCF subawardees. A set of Frequently Asked Questions and their answers for the RFP is available here .

List of our municipal subawardees: Click here to download our flyer. Trees play a pivotal role in the well-being of our cities. Below are some key points provided by the Forest Service on why we need to continue to invest in our urban forests, especially in historically underserved, disadvantaged communities, where lack of tree equity is still an issue.

Trees Remove Air Pollutants Trees improve air quality through the direct removal of pollutants. According to an NPS study, pollutants like SO2, NO2, CO, and ozone are permanently converted when inside the leaf and particulates are captured on the surface until they can be filtered by stormwater systems. Increasing urban forestry in suitable areas could remove an additional 70 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere.

Trees Reduce Surface Air Temperatures Research has shown tree canopy cover can reduce temperatures by 11 – 19 degrees Fahrenheit compared to communities with no tree cover. Shade from a healthy, mature tree can lower surface air temperatures by up to 20–45°F in an isolated area.

Trees Improve Water Quality & Help With Stormwater Runoff Trees improve water quality by filtering the water to remove contaminants and slowing the flow of runoff into the stormwater system. Trees Improve Physical & Mental Health Proximity to urban green space in residential areas is associated with multiple health benefits in both children and adults.

Health benefits include decreased mortality rates, increased birth weight, improved sleep, cognitive functions, physical activity, social connectivity, and neighborhood safety.

GreenLatinos works closely with community-based organizations (CBOs) and municipalities in historically underrepresented communities via frontline, grassroots efforts to promote public private partnerships to more effectively address tree equity, heat mitigation, restoration and resilience and urban forestry workforce development.

We understand that many CBOs need technical assistance and in-depth guidance when dealing with urban forestry planning and implementation in their communities. We are working to build a repository of information that will be accessible to anyone seeking guidance on Urban and Community Forestry - check out our UCF Resources page.

For more information about GreenLatinos' Urban and Community Forestry Program, please email [email protected] or contact Program Director, Rachna Vas, at [email protected] . Urban & Community Forestry Program Explore Other Advocacies and Programs Climate Justice & Clean Air