U.S. Announces $1.13 Billion in Grants for Tree Planting Projects

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $1.13 billion in competitive grants for tree planting projects around the country. The tree planting initiatives are meant to provide more relief from extreme heat, curb climate change and provide more green space in communities.

The funding, granted through the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program and made possible from Inflation Reduction Act investments, will be distributed across 385 selected grant proposals in all 50 states as well as Washington, DC and multiple U.S. Territories and Tribal Nations.

“These investments arrive as cities across the country experience record-breaking heatwaves that have grave impacts on public health, energy consumption, and overall well-being,” Vilsack said in a statement. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are supporting communities in becoming more resilient to climate change and combating extreme heat with the cooling effects of increased urban tree canopy, while also supporting employment opportunities and professional training that will strengthen local economies.”

The selected projects address planting and maintaining trees and were selected from a total of 842 applications. 

By planting more trees in communities, the goal is to mitigate the extreme heat that many areas have experienced this summer. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, urban forests are an average of 2.9 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than areas with no tree cover.

“We believe we can create more resilient communities in terms of the impacts of climate,” Vilsack said, as reported by The Associated Press. “We think we can mitigate extreme heat incidents and events in many of the cities.”

There are both pros and cons to planting trees in the face of climate change. One study found that increasing tree cover to 30% in a city could prevent hundreds of heat-related deaths in the summer months. The New York State Department of Environmental Conversation noted that exposure to trees can alleviate stress, improve mood and lower blood pressure. Further, Yale Climate Connections reported that exposure to trees can also promote more movement and may result in improved immune system functioning and lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

But a recent report found that government and corporate climate pledges are overly optimistic on tree planting, and these efforts must complement other initiatives to curb climate change and its impacts.

Still, the winning proposals are expected to increase green space in communities, ultimately providing more access to nature and offering some relief from extreme heat.

“Today’s 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,” John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation, said in a statement. “That makes a huge difference for the grandmother who doesn’t have air conditioning, or the kid who has asthma, or the parent who works outside for ten hours a day. This investment will create not just greener cities — it will create healthier and more equitable cities.”