ALBANY – More than $500,000 in grant money is available through the new Trees For Tributaries Grant Program, through the Environmental Protection Fund, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
The program is to support riparian tree planting projects for communities across New York State. This funding is available to municipalities, academic institutions and not-for-profits, for projects that will plant trees and shrubs along streams to improve wildlife habitat, water quality and storm resiliency.
Projects must use native trees and shrubs for planting, and must occur within the eligible funding locations. Visit www.dec.ny.gov/animals/113412.htmlfor a map of eligible areas. Grant amounts will range from a minimum of $11,000 to a maximum of $100,000. Priority will be given to projects that engage community partners and volunteers in their tree planting activities, as well as those that create a stream buffer width of 35 feet or more.
Applications are due by 3:00 p.m., Sept. 7, 2018. The Trees for Tributaries Grant Program Request for Applications (RFA) is available on DEC’s website www.dec.ny.gov/animals/113412.html and through the NYS Grants Gateway website grantsreform.ny.gov/. All grant applicants must register in the NYS Grants Gateway system before applying. Not-for-profit applicants are required to “prequalify” in the system, so it is recommended the process be started well in advance of the grant application due date.
A “How to” webinar will be offered Wednesday, July 25,at 10 a.m. to educate potential applicants on the grants process, see Trees for Tributaries Grant Program webpage for details. General questions about the grants program may be directed to Mary Hegarty, DEC’s Trees for Tributaries Statewide Coordinator, NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4250, treesfortribs@dec.ny.gov.
The grant program is a part of the New York State’s Trees for Tribs Program, which works to restore plant buffers along New York’s tributaries (small creeks and streams that flow into larger rivers and lakes) using native bare root trees and shrubs provided by the Saratoga State Tree Nursery. These restored buffers stabilize stream banks, prevent erosion, increase flood water retention, protect infrastructure, and improve wildlife and stream habitat. Since 2007, Trees for Tribs has engaged about 10,000 volunteers in planting more than 114,000 trees and shrubs at approximately 650 sites across New York State.
To learn more about the Trees for Tributaries Program, visit www.dec.ny.gov/animals/77710.html
To learn more about the Saratoga State Tree Nursery, visit www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7127.html
