City Awarded Urban and Community Forestry Grant

City Awarded Urban and Community Forestry Grant

March 29, 2024

As part of its ongoing efforts to help ensure the urban forest is healthy and properly managed for future generations, the City of Tallahassee recently secured a $25,000 Urban and Community Forestry grant from the Florida Forest Service, which the City will match.

Tallahassee has one of the highest percentages of tree canopy coverage in the nation at 55 percent. It also has an extremely diverse population of tree species. To help manage this vital asset, the City adopted its Urban Forest Master Plan in 2018 and employs more than 20 certified arborists and tree care professionals who provide care for trees within public rights-of-way, participate in reforestation efforts and help educate residents about proper tree care. Hundreds of trees are planted by the City on residential property each year - free of charge - through its popular Adopt a Tree program. These are some of the reasons that Tallahassee has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a "Tree City USA" community for 31 consecutive years.

The grant will help fund an updated tree inventory along canopy roads within the Tallahassee city limits, as well as additional trees along publicly maintained streets of several adjoining neighborhoods. The project focuses on updating information previously gathered during the 2014 inventory, which included data about each tree's species, size, current condition and more. New and updated information will aid in proactive tree management efforts to help ensure the health of community trees.

Funding for this project was provided by the USDA Forest Service through the Florida Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program. The Urban and Community Forestry grant program provides financial assistance to local governments, tribal governments, volunteer groups, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions to initiate or enhance local urban and community forestry programs and improve the urban environment within the state of Florida. Awards are made as 50-50 matching grants.

For more information about the City's efforts to protect and properly manage the local canopy, visit Talgov.com.