Groups looking to plant trees in “overburdened, underserved communities” in Maryland can apply to receive funding for their project through a new grant fund.
The Maryland Forest Service will distribute $4.8 million in federal Inflation Reduction Act Funds over the next four years through the state’s Community Forestry Catalyst Fund.
“We’ve seen strong evidence in the past 30 years that the forest conservation laws we have in Maryland are effective at curbing the amount of forest lost during development,” said Maryland Forest Service Director Anne Hairston-Strang in a statement. “But what the science is telling us today is that we have to look beyond the high-level metrics and start contending with how the location and health of those trees influence things like quality of life, public health, and climate resilience.”
Grant applications will be accepted now through March 15. A second application window will open this summer.
To be eligible, applicants must be a local government entity; a federally recognized tribe or tribal organization; a nonprofit organization; a public and state-controlled higher education institution; or a public community-based organization that serves community residents and stakeholders through engagement, education, and other related services.
The forestry service will accept proposals under one or more funding tracks: site readiness, implementation, and capacity building.
At minimum, grant recipients will receive at least $5,000. Projects under the site readiness and implementation tracks may receive up to $50,000; capacity building projects can receive up to $200,000.
The fund is part of the state’s commitment to plant 5 million native trees in Maryland by 2031. As of January, the state had planted nearly half a million trees toward that goal of increasing Maryland’s tree canopy.
To apply or to learn more about the Community Forestry Catalyst Fund, visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website.
