Urban and Community Forestry Program (UCF)
Federal Agency
Sub-Department
United States Forest Service
Purpose
To provide technical, financial, research and educational services for communities to conserve, restore, and enhance urban forests.
Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include non-profits, educational institutions of higher learning, local governments, municipalities, tribal organizations, and state organizations representing multi-state or national proposals.
Decarbonization Considerations
Consider enhancing urban and suburban tree canopies, especially where heat islands and flooding are more common. Urban forestry needs to be strategically deployed and well managed to help reduce energy use, mitigate disasters and promote human health. Specific eligible uses of funding are listed in the NOFO: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/UCF-IRA-NOFO-04122023.pdf See RMI's report, "Growing to Its Potential", for more on the climate benefits of urban nature: https://rmi.org/insight/growing-to-its-potential/
Equity Considerations
This program specifically aims to (1) increase equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities, (2) broaden community engagement in local urban forest planning, and (3) improve community and urban forest resilience to climate change, pests and storm events through best management and maintenance practices.
Helpful Tips
Applicants should consider multi-year projects and other sources of funds, which may include other Federal cooperative conservation sources. While other Federal dollars or technical support may contribute to the project, they may not be used to match these Federal grant program dollars. USDA will fund projects for a preiod of 5 years. Each year, grant categories vary. All grant categories align with one or more of the goals in the National Ten Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026). See this resource here: https://urbanforestplan.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/FinalActionPlan_Complete_11_17_15.pdf
Other Notes
FY2023 awardees can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests/ucf/2023-grant-funding