The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Lands and Forests is pleased to announce available Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) funding for Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) grants for Tree Inventory and/or Management Plan.
Donor Name: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
State: New York
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/21/2023
Size of the Grant:
- Large Community Grants: up to $100,000
- Small Community Grants: up to $75,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
This reimbursement grant program focuses on partnerships, volunteers, community groups, professionals and outreach and education because these are components of strong and sustainable community forestry programs. Eligible project categories include tree inventories, management plans, tree planting, maintenance, and education programming for those who care for community trees. Some categories require a 25% match. Grant funds are available from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund and are managed and allocated by DEC.
Grant proposals are evaluated for cost effectiveness, projected benefits, use of recommended standards in implementation, community outreach and education, local support, and regional impact. Appropriate consideration is given to under-served neighborhoods, as well as environmental issues that could be addressed with green solutions. DEC foresters can provide technical assistance to applicants and assist with tree lists for planting grants.
Project Types
- Tree Inventory – Urban and Community Forestry 1
- Only Tree Inventory and Community Forest Management Plan projects are allowed and recommended to be combined in one application.
- The goal of inventory projects is to get a picture of the size, species, health, geographic distribution and maintenance needs of the urban forest. A complete inventory (on public property, i.e. street and park trees, managed by the applicant or municipality) provides information for individualized tree care, including risk tree identification. Level II risk tree assessment is included in most tree inventories. Applicants/communities are eligible to apply for a Tree Inventory if the DEC UCF program has not funded one for the same location in the last 8 years. Awardees are required to:
- Hire/use an ISA certified arborist (or ISA arborist-supervised company) to conduct the inventory. An exception may be granted by the DEC UCF Program if requested prior to application submission and organization/individual to conduct the inventory has proven experience in conducting professional tree inventories. Check local listings or the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) website for certified arborist companies in your area for quotes
- Collect data in a computerized software program that will allow for an i-Tree ECO benefits analysis (pollution removal, carbon storage, hydrology effects, ultraviolet (UV) effects, etc.)
- All tree inventories must be ground-truthed. Aerial assessment may be used in conjunction with ground truthing
- Upon completion of the project, an electronic copy of the final tree inventory must be submitted by the awardee in a format compatible with Microsoft Office Excel or Access, and in a GIS shape file formatted as per awardee guidelines, to the DEC grant administrator via email and should be listed as one of the tasks and related performance measures in the application work plan
- Wait until the inventory is complete before writing the management plan, if the management plan is part of the project
- The minimum accuracy rate is 95%. Your local DEC urban forester will inspect and approve the inventory prior to final reimbursement. Discuss expectations with your local DEC urban forester
- Explain how the inventory will be updated and maintained, including software, in the long-term support question.
- Community Forest Management Plan- Urban and Community Forestry 1
- Only Tree Inventory and Community Forest Management Plan (CFMP) projects are allowed and recommended to be combined in one application. A professional Tree Inventory is a prerequisite or corequisite for a CFMP project.
- The CFMP is based on tree inventory data and documents the steps necessary to elevate the community forestry program to a self-sustaining level that will expand its long-term benefits and assure they are available to all residents. This CFMP will provide a record and understanding of what currently exists while managing the future goals of the community.
- Applicants/communities are eligible to apply for a CFMP if the DEC UCF program has not funded a management plan for the same location in the last 8 years. Applications should include an explanation of how this plan will be incorporated in all aspects of future planning in the community, such as infrastructure, development, revitalization, recreation, transportation and storm preparedness.
Funding Information
- Approximately $3,000,000 in total is available for the UCF Grant (Round 16), approximately $1,500,000 for UCF1. Should newly-appropriated funding become available, DEC may award additional applications received in this round.
- Funding for this grant opportunity is provided from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund
- Applicants should request the amount of funding they can show is appropriate and reasonable for their project and supported in their application
- The minimum for all requests is $10,000
- Large Community Grants: Applicants may request up to $100,000
- Small Community Grants: Applicants may request up to $75,000
- “Large Community” for the purposes of this grant includes all cities, towns, and villages with a population of 65,000 or more.
- For applicants other than cities, towns and villages, the size of the maximum grant amount allowed is determined by the size of the community in which the project will take place
- At least $1,000,000 will be awarded to applications in Large Communities
- This is a reimbursement grant program. Awardees must submit reimbursement requests after the work is complete and contractors have been paid
- Grant Period: 2-year grant to help start, plan and advance strong, self-sustainable UCF programs which enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers.
Eligible Project Locations
- Projects must be implemented in New York State and on non-state-owned properties (municipal public property, i.e., street and park trees), privately owned parkland that is open to the public (e.g. cemeteries) or alongside a state-owned roadway in a city, town, or village in a location where they provide a public benefit. Projects may be implemented further from a public roadway if within 10 feet either side of a paved or maintained multiple use trail. Schools with trees: trees on school property may be included in municipal applications if the property is owned by the municipality or if there is a written agreement that asserts the municipality manages the trees. Upload the agreement. Applicants must include a clear map of the project area in this application.
- Any work conducted by a municipality on private property, other than parklands providing public access, must be no more than ten feet beyond the municipal right-of-way. Beyond the municipal right-of-way refers to privately-owned lands that are adjacent to public lands. State law authorizes the use of public resources on private property if a public benefit is primarily served by that expenditure. Work may occur on property beyond the right-of-way to benefit the general public even though private parties would receive an incidental benefit. The local municipality must enact a local law authorizing work beyond the right-of-way. Such laws typically identify specific types of work that can be conducted beyond the right-of-way and establish ground rules to govern such work.
Eligibility Criteria
For the purposes of this grant program, the following entities are considered eligible applicants:
- New York State government entities, municipalities, and quasi-governmental entities including, but not limited to, counties, cities, towns, villages, or public benefit corporations, public authorities, municipal corporations, soil and water conservation districts, and community colleges.
- Indian nations or tribes recognized by the State or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, or any combination thereof.
- 501(c)(3) not-for-profit (NFP) corporations whose projects are located within the eligible geographic boundaries defined in this Request for Applications (RFA). NFP applicants must possess the knowledge, skills, and/or track record to successfully implement the project.
For more information, visit NYDEC.
