New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department: Community Forestry Assistance Cost-Share Program

The Community Forestry Assistance Cost-Share Program will fund proposals that seek to develop sustainable urban and community forestry programs at the local level in New Mexico. Specifically funding will support proposals in the below categories:

1. Program development and improvement: Project examples include the development of citizen-based volunteer efforts and programs (tree inventory training, planting training, maintenance, etc.); community forestry board or tree board development; tree ordinance development or revision; efforts toward becoming a Tree City USA; development or implementation of community forest, street tree, or tree risk management plans; implementing tree improvement and replacement programs; maintaining and improving community tree cover; and enhancement of existing urban forestry programs and services.

2. Inventory and assessment: Project examples include tree inventory and assessment; canopy cover mapping; assessing green infrastructure development strategies; community forest benefit assessments; community forest health and risk assessments; and community forest resource analysis.

3. Training, certification, and professional development: Project examples include arborist or community forestry training for staff and volunteers; tree planting and maintenance training for community volunteers invested in community forestry efforts; International Society of Arboriculture certification scholarships for community foresters (e.g., study materials, exam costs, first year membership); professional development through attendance at the Municipal Forestry Institute, Arbor Day Foundation Partners in Community Forestry Conference, or other arborist or community forestry conferences; green infrastructure planning and implementation courses; and tree care worker training on planting, care, and maintenance of trees.

4. Environmental education: Project examples include ‘Every Kid in a Park’ initiatives that incorporate forestry; creating and implementing environmental education programs that focus on urban and community forestry issues; strategy development and demonstration project establishment for improving the understanding of the benefits of community forests; and engaging communities in urban forestry establishment and stewardship.

Amount: A total of $90,000 is available, of which $10,000 will be designated for 4th grade outdoor education programs that incorporate forestry, as part of the U.S. Forest Service support of the National Park Service ‘Every Kid in a Park’ initiative and an additional $10,000 is designated for green infrastructure implementation training or planning initiatives that incorporate urban forestry. In general, grants may range up to $15,000. A 1:1 match is required.

Eligibility: Tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations and non-federal governmental entities, including public colleges and universities, and tribes and pueblos.

Link: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/RFPs/RFPMain.html

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