City receives nearly $2 million in federal funding to support urban canopy expansion

The City of Sacramento and Congresswoman Doris Matsui last week announced nearly $2 million in federal funding for the City's urban forestry efforts.

Staff on April 25 were joined by Mayor Darrell Steinberg and partners with the Sacramento City Unified School District and Sacramento Tree Foundation for a press conference.

The funding will be released through two grants: $1 million from the U.S. Forest Service's Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program and $981,042 from the EPA's Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Grant Program.

Announcement of the funding aligns with the recent release of the City's draft Urban Forest Plan that calls for increasing citywide tree canopy from 19 percent to 35 percent by 2045.

"The draft Sacramento Urban Forest Plan allows us to plan for the future by providing a long-term strategy for the protection and growth of trees," said Rachel Patten, the City's Sustainability Program Specialist. "The infusion of funding from these two federal grant programs allow us to act now to grow tree canopy in the areas of the city where residents are most vulnerable to climate change, tree canopy is sparse, and temperatures are hottest."

"Sacramento is home to one million trees, but unfortunately there are disparities in tree coverage throughout the city," Steinberg said. "For many decades fewer trees were planted in economically disadvantaged communities. As the City of Trees, it is crucial that we extend our canopy to every corner of our city. Every resident and every neighborhood is important, and every neighborhood deserves shade and beauty."

"The Sacramento tree canopy is our pride and joy - yet it is not equitably distributed throughout our neighborhoods. That means that the effects of climate change and air pollution are not experienced in the same way across Sacramento's communities," Matsui said. "This partnership between the federal government and the City of Sacramento seeks to bridge that gap and build out a more equitable urban tree canopy for every neighborhood in our city. Urban forests are an integral part of the urban ecosystem. They play a key role in comprehensive climate solutions and addressing disproportionate air pollution in our frontline communities. That's why I have been such a strong advocate for our city staff, and our partners at SCUSD and the Sacramento Tree Foundation for their forward-thinking approach to bring resources, training, and sustainable programming where it is needed most."

[Link]Staff on April 25 were joined by Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Congresswoman Matsui and partners with the Sacramento City Unified School District and Sacramento Tree Foundation.

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