Environmental Protection Fund – New York State Urban Forestry Council

Governor Cuomo Announces $2.8 Million in Grant Awards to Combat Spread Of Invasive Species

June 23, 2019 by Michelle Sutton

A thicket of Japanese knotweed. Citation: Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, www.invasives.org

Funding Supports Invasive Species Rapid Response and Control, Research, Lake Management Planning, and Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention Programs.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced more than $2.8 million in grants have been awarded to 42 projects that will reduce the negative impacts of invasive species through control or removal activities, research, and spread prevention. These grants are part of the State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Invasive Species Grant Program and are funded by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund.

Across the state, DEC is using science to determine what actions will have the greatest impact in controlling invasive species. Awarded projects are spread across four categories:

Prospect Park Tree Inventory & Benefits Analysis: Results Are In!

September 25, 2018 by Michelle Sutton

Prospect Park and Prospect Park Alliance Facts

September 14, 2018

Through a $75,000 Urban Forestry Grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Prospect Park Alliance recently surveyed roughly 12,000 of the park’s 30,000 trees as part of its work in caring for the Park’s natural areas.

The survey not only provides a more nuanced picture of the park’s evolving ecosystem, but important insights into the economic, environmental and health benefits of Brooklyn’s Backyard. Conducted by Davey Resource Group (DRG), a well-respected urban forestry consultancy that has worked extensively in New York City, you can examine the results on the Prospect Park TreeKeeper Interactive Map.

“The survey has provided exciting insight into what we already knew were some of the park’s most important treasures, its trees,” said Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue. “We are all aware of how special this urban green space is, but now with this data we can quantify the economic benefit our community receives from these trees. It clearly reinforces just how precious this resource is, and how we must all do our part to care for it.”

Deadline to Apply for Environmental Justice Grants Extended to July 27, 2018

July 10, 2018 by Michelle Sutton

DEC Extends Application Period for Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants
Deadline to Apply for Grants Extended to July 27, 2018

Green infrastructure (bioswale). Photo by Karen Emmerich

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos recently announced the extension of the application period for Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants. The deadline to submit applications has been extended to July 27, 2018. In April, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $4.5 Million in Community Impact Grant funding is available to help communities facing environmental justice challenges address environmental concerns. The funding is provided by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).