Preparing For The Influx of Federal Urban Forestry Funding

How to turn the billions of dollars of potential created by the Inflation Reduction Act into real progress

September 29, 2022  | Alec Sabatini

Preparing For The Influx of Federal Urban Forestry Funding and the Inflation Reduction Act

The urban forestry industry has enjoyed some well-earned celebration this past month after the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It’s not every day (or lifetime) the federal government gives 1.5 billion reasons to improve our urban and community forests.

As the echoes of high fives have faded in the PlanIT Geo hallways, we and thousands of urban forestry professionals around the country are thinking about how to put this unprecedented wave of federal urban forestry funding to best use. So, let’s look at what is included in the IRA and outline how these funds can have a real impact on the livability of our communities and the resilience of our urban forests.

 

 

Let’s Do The Numbers

As of August 16th, 2022 the federal government is making a whopping $360 billion investment to address climate change. Thankfully, the Act takes a diversified approach with billions going toward clean energy investments and rebates as well as natural climate solutions, like fire management, coastal restoration, and other land management actions.

Forestry projects have been allocated a $5 billion slice of the pie, with $1.5 billion targeted specifically for the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) program. The USFS UCF program is THE conduit of federal funds to states and territories, which then distribute to local governments and community organizations.

“Total funding for urban and community forestry has hovered around $30 million annually the past few years, hitting $36 million in 2022 — not even $1 million per state.” Jad Daley, CEO of American Forests, in GreenWire.

The $1.5 billion investment will be distributed over the next nine years, marking a nearly five-fold increase in annual funding to be given out. The funds will be distributed in multi-year, programmatic, competitive grants for tree planting and related activities, with priority given to projects that benefit underserved communities, address extreme heat, and low-canopy populations. This funding is then leveraged (often 5 times over) by state and local government dollars, private and corporate matching funds, and volunteer time. 

How To Use Federal Urban Forestry Funding

“There’s just one catch to this hopeful story—these dollars represent potential, but do not yet guarantee progress. Substantial challenges lie ahead to implement these funds with the pace, scale, and climate focus that lawmakers intended…”, said Jad Daley, CEO of American Forests, in TIME.

Urban trees are rightfully being recognized as magnificent multitaskers, which will revitalize American communities, lower energy bills, and create jobs, all while capturing carbon. These dollars can be game-changing for community forests across the country, but a lot of work must be done to transmute federal dollars into lasting benefits for people and the planet.

The private sector has an important role to play in helping governments and nonprofits to apply these funds and provide supplemental staff support, lead technical design and data analysis, consult on planning and policy updates and more. PlanIT Geo has more than 10 years of experience in developing and successfully executing contracts for urban forestry software and consulting projects from USFS funding. We are committed and excited to contribute our expertise to this push for forestry as a climate solution.

Organizations will be more successful applying for funding when they have data and plans on current tree conditions, canopy coverage, priority planting areas, and community engagement. Here are some examples of how our services align with the new federal urban forestry funding to maximize positive outcomes.

“There’s just one catch to this hopeful story—these dollars represent potential, but do not yet guarantee progress. Substantial challenges lie ahead to implement these funds with the pace, scale, and climate focus that lawmakers intended…”

-Jad Daley, CEO of American Forests

Federal urban forestry funding used for tree canopy assessments from PlanIT Geo

Urban Tree Canopy Assessments

To act incisively, state agencies and communities need to have a complete picture of their urban trees. One major opportunity for these grants is the widespread use of urban tree canopy assessments. Tree canopy data gives communities a unique vantage point to see how urban development, tree planting, and tree preservation policies affect the urban forest.

Urban foresters and arborists can use this big-picture view to identify areas of canopy growth and loss over time and make data-driven decisions on where communities should plant new trees. It also establishes a baseline of current urban forest conditions, so the progress created by these grants is captured, such as the increase in canopy coverage percentage citywide and in high-priority areas.

This influx of funding coincides with recent advances in the tree canopy analysis process. PlanIT Geo is using advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver canopy data in days, instead of months, which lowers the cost and makes recurring canopy assessments more feasible. Communities can get accessible tree canopy data NOW and be positioned with a compelling, data-backed grant application as soon as federal urban forestry funding becomes available.

Urban Forest Plans

Municipalities looking for new ways to use funds should create or update their urban forest management/master plans (UFMPs). A UFMP looks to the future, asking what kind of urban forest a community would like to see and envisioning the actions, goals, policies, and metrics to get there. It’s a framework for ensuring urban forestry programs are moving in the right direction, and often integrates with a climate plan to align urban trees and the community’s climate goals.

Without a plan, urban forestry programs often operate reactively, mitigating risks and emergencies as they arise, and lack broad support and awareness of the value tree canopy provides. Communities looking to operate more proactively and increase urban forest benefits can apply grant funds toward creating a UFMP.

As consultants for dozens of plans for cities, counties, and nonprofits, PlanIT Geo has developed a proven planning framework to ensure management decisions made today build towards beneficial outcomes for decades to come. For smaller organizations and towns, we take a lead role in helping create or expand your tree maintenance program from soup to nuts. For larger cities, we establish consensus on urban forest program goals, and align and evolve the existing processes and policies to get there.

Inflation reduction act funds can be used for urban forest management plans from PlanIT Geo
Urban forestry grant resource links USA
Inflation reduction act funds can be used for tree inventories  from PlanIT Geo

Public Tree Inventories

It is a lot easier to manage trees when you know their quantity and quality. Any urban forestry program can benefit from an updated tree inventory. Still, it’s a significant expense to send out your staff or contract arborists every five or so years to assess all public trees. That makes it an ideal target for grant funding.

Tree inventory data helps cities prioritize maintenance, track work records, and calculate the precise ecosystem benefits of their trees. It also gives valuable species diversity and composition statistics, which help cities plant towards a more resilient urban forest, even as the climate changes. PlanIT Geo is a leader in GIS-based tree inventory, and our team of ISA Certified Arborists has inventoried over one million trees across 30 states and territories.

Turning Information Into Action With Software

Urban forestry software is another effective candidate for grant funding. GIS-based software can be the bridge between singular projects, like a tree inventory, canopy assessment, or UFMP, and improved day-to-day operations. We created this Urban Forestry Guide for local, county, and state governments to map out all of the ways we can meet the needs of public urban forestry programs with collaborative tools and services.

For example, an urban forest management plan will provide specific, measurable recommendations, including prioritized tree maintenance. TreePlotter™ INVENTORY was built and field-tested by arborists to connect the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from a UFMP with efficient operations, so priority goals flow directly into a trackable work management system.

Software also helps turn land cover data from urban tree canopy assessments into action. We developed TreePlotter CANOPY to help organizations interact and analyze canopy data without GIS expertise. By visualizing tree canopy data along with other socioeconomic data, programs can fine-tune their planting priorities, evaluate realistic canopy goals, and measure projected impacts on ecosystem benefits.

Inflation reduction act funds can be used for urban forestry Software from PlanIT Geo

We’re Here To Help

It is hard to overstate what this wave of funding could mean for urban forestry programs. There is still plenty to be ironed out on how exactly this bill will be implemented. The 2023 Farm Bill will offer more insight into how much the U.S. Forest Service will be authorized to spend, once it gets written and approved next year.

What is certain is the funding flow rate from the federal government is about to spike, and states, cities, and community organizations will all benefit. We at PlanIT Geo are excited to add momentum to this movement and expand the capacity of our clients to get green and stay green. We are always happy to have a conversation specific to the opportunities of your community. If you are ready to look for funding opportunities available now, check out our webpage of urban forestry grant opportunities from all around the country.

Related Resources

PlanIT Geo Urban Forestry Guide for Governments 1 page guide

Urban Forestry Guide for GOVERNMENTS

There is a lot that goes into running an effective urban forestry program. As a hub for urban forestry innovation, PlanIT Geo is able to provide support and guidance at any step in a program’s evolution. This guide lays out all of the solutions that we have used to help public urban forestry programs grow, improve, and adapt.

Urban forestry grant resource links USA

Urban Forestry Grant Resources Directory

YOUR GO-TO SOURCE FOR URBAN FORESTRY GRANTS.

Find grants in your area. Our urban forestry consultants have helped many communities submit and win grants. Find a grant or start a conversation with our consultants about getting your program goals funded.

AI-Driven Tree Canopy Data from PlanIT Geo

Get Your Urban Tree Canopy Assessment TOMORROW

We are the first in our industry to provide 60-cm resolution land cover data built into an interactive tree canopy software tool, making it simple for you to view, plan and achieve your tree canopy goals. Off-the-shelf tree canopy analysis for the lower 48 is already completed.

Sister Climate Cities in California

Looking To The Future To Plant Trees With Staying Power

It requires careful planning to select trees that will thrive in the expected climate conditions 20, 30 and 60 years in the future. We were confronted with this task in a project in early 2022 to review and expand the planting palette for the City of Fremont, California. To crack the case we developed a new method called the Sister Climate City Analysis to model the future climate of Fremont with a real world example.

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Stay Up To Date With The Latest News and Events

 

Join Our Newsletter

Stay informed on the urban forestry industry with our monthly TREEbune newsletter, live webinars, and industry-specific content delivered to your inbox.

Urban Forestry Webinars

PlanIT Geo has a substantial on-demand webinar library. Get CEU credits, grow your knowledge base, and stay current on cutting edge industry technology.

Follow Us

We love to share industry-related news, software tutorials, blogs, and company news across our social channels.