PITTSBURGH ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH FORESTRY DIVISION TO RECEIVE A COMBINED $9 MILLION IN COMMUNITY FORESTRY FUNDING FROM FEDERAL INFLATION REDUCTION ACT
PITTSBURGH – The City of Pittsburgh and its environmental non-profit partners know and understand the impact having green spaces and trees have on a neighborhood. Their hard work is being recognized through two Urban and Community Forestry Grants by the United States Department of Agriculture U.S. Forest Service.
The Forest Service is making historic investments in boosting the nation’s tree cover in urban, suburban, and rural communities nationwide. The department selected 385 grant proposals from across the nation, two U.S. territories, three U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands, and several tribal communities working to increase equitable access to trees and green spaces, and the benefits they provide.
The city’s vacant lots tree planting project designed to mitigate urban heat effects across City neighborhoods received a million dollars. This program focuses on underserved communities and works to identify and remove hazardous trees while also replacing them with new trees. In the end, creating or revitalizing natural areas in these neighborhoods.
The Pittsburgh Canopy Alliance is receiving 8 million dollars to increase tree canopy and support a more resilient urban forest. This will help community-level planning and workforce development to plant and maintain trees along streets, in parks and public greenspaces, and on residential and institutional property within the Biden Administration Justice 40 zones.
“These federally funded grants will make maintaining and creating green spaces for Pittsburgh residents easier. Due to climate change, we all can appreciate the shade of a healthy tree and the cool breezes they generate,” said Mayor Ed Gainey.
Tree Pittsburgh led the Pittsburgh Canopy Alliance’s application, which includes Tree Pittsburgh, Western PA Conservancy, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Landforce, Allegheny Land Trust, Allegheny County Conservation District, Goatscape, UrbanKind Institute, and Friends of the Riverfront.
With a net loss of 4,000 acres of tree canopy across Allegheny County between 2015-2020, the Pittsburgh Canopy Alliance has researched, prioritized, and developed shared goals to increase urban tree canopy with a focus on equity. The Alliance’s work supported by this funding program embraces community-level planning and workforce development to plant and maintain trees along streets, in parks and public greenspaces, and on residential and institutional property within Justice 40 zones.
Studies have shown that vibrant green spaces and trees help improve the overall health of residents, help reduce crime, and lower the average temperatures in communities.
To view the full US Forest Service announcement, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests/ucf/2023-grant-funding.
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ABOUT THE PITTSBURGH CANOPY ALLIANCE
The Pittsburgh Canopy Alliance is a working group of more than 20 nonprofit organizations and government agencies across Allegheny County. Alliance partners are committed to increasing equitable access to urban tree canopy and the many human health, environmental, and economic benefits that it brings. This collaboration aims to increase community involvement in local planning, leading to healthier trees and a greater number of them. Learn more, including a list of participating organizations and agencies, at pittsburghcanopyalliance.org.
