Hudson Valley ReLeaf News
Rooting for Hudson Valley Trees Since 1992
In this issue:
New Co-Chairs for HV ReLeaf
Since 1992, New York ReLeaf has promoted the value of trees, proper tree care, and best management practices. There are ReLeaf groups throughout the state. Our Hudson Valley group connects our regional tree managers and interested folks to networking opportunities, technical expertise, training/workshops, and potential funding sources, so we can optimize benefits trees provide where we live, work, and play in the Hudson Valley. |
Hudson Valley Urban Foresters, Amy Mackenzie and Brent Knepper are honored to be the next to continue the ReLeaf legacy as co-chairs of Hudson Valley ReLeaf. Amy and Brent look forward to collaborating with you to provide tools and resources, specific to our region, that will support urban and community forestry efforts here. Amy and Brent, are grateful to HV ReLeaf's most recent co-chairs, Jean Zimmerman and George Profous, for their continued support and guidance as they remain active in this group and beyond. Find George's enlightening article titled "Cooling Skyward: Trees and Heat" that was featured in June in NYS Urban Forestry Council's "Taking Root" newsletter that is edited... by Jean! You're invited to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to our network of "tree people" by verifying your subscription to this newsletter in a subsequent email you'll receive from nysdec@public.govdelivery or by following the instructions to self-subscribe at the foot of this page.
Please consider forwarding this email newsletter to those you know who may be interested.
Program reactivation is a great time to offer a survey to poll potential partners on how to direct how programs will operate to best serve stakeholders into the future. Please consider taking our survey to share how you envision this program working best for you and the urban forests we steward. The survey is anonymous, and the results will guide our program's structure and function.
Please consider submitting this 10-question survey by July 18, 2025.
Thank you!
The 2025 ReLeaf Conference is Lakeside in Oswego
Join us July 22 through July 24!
You are invited to attend this year’s ReLeaf Conference at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center in Oswego, New York.
At this year’s conference we will look at some historical projects, discuss how urban forestry has evolved over time, and hear about future projects that will move us toward achieving our shared goal of greening our communities for the benefit of all.
Attendees always have great opportunities to network and exchange ideas with leading urban forestry specialists and professionals.
Check out this Taking Root newsletter article titled "Oswego, Home to Great History and Great Trees" and get excited about visiting Oswego for our annual conference!
Arbor Day Foundation Programs Help Us Make it Happen!
Arbor Day Foundation's recently released infographic uses real data to place monetary values on the billions of dollars' worth of benefits that New York State's urban and community forests provide.
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31,347 people are employed as a result of urban forestry activities
- Urban trees in the state contribute $3.7 billion in community-wide environmental benefits each year, such as carbon sequestration, air pollution removal, and avoided stormwater runoff.
- Communities in New York enrolled in Tree City USA invested an average of $6.85 per resident for tree planting and care compared to $3.00 per resident in non-participating communities nationally.
- The urban forestry sector in New York has an annual sales and employment footprint worth $5.1 billion.
- Tree cover at private homes adds $1.8 billion annually to property values across New York.
Study data is from 2021
"Trees at Work" Online Canopy Assessment Tool
Explore your urban forest and beyond with an online tool that was created using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data through a collaboration between the US Forest Service, Arbor Day Foundation, and PlanIT Geo in the "Trees at Work" program. Use this tree canopy assessment tool to visualize urban tree canopy changes, identify key areas for planting, and empower your community to support its community forests.
Our 2024 Arbor Day Foundation Recognized Municipalities, Schools, and Utilities
The Arbor Day Foundation recognition programs including Tree City USA, Tree Line USA, Tree Campus Higher Education and K-12, and Tree Healthcare Campus are great at providing tree managers guidance to develop and improve their urban and community forestry programs. The Hudson Valley region is well-represented in New York State's list of Arbor Day Foundation recognized municipalities, campuses, and utilities!
Please reach out to DEC Urban Forester, Amy Mackenzie, for more information about any of the Arbor Day Foundation recognition programs.
Congratulations to all who earned recognition in 2024!
Spotlight on Current Projects
The NYSDEC Urban and Community Forestry Program is currently administering $4,127,396 worth of support to 16 Hudson Valley projects through grants that have been awarded and are underway or will be very soon.
Awarded Hudson Valley projects:
Urban and Community Forestry Grants Round 16 – Mid-Hudson Valley Awards:
- UCF1 – Tree Inventory and Community Forest Management Plan grant awards totaling $978,820 were awarded on December 22, 2023.
- Orange County
- City of Newburgh - $71,250: Tree Inventory and Management Plan Update
- Westchester County
- City of Peekskill: $75,000 - Tree Inventory and Management Plan
- Village of Hastings-on-Hudson: $21,525 - Tree Inventory
- City of New Rochelle: $100,000 - Tree Inventory and Management Plan
- Village of Rye Brook: $50,000 - Tree Inventory
- UCF2 – Tree Planting and Tree Maintenance grant awards totaling $2,040,841 were awarded on April 26, 2024.
- Ulster County
- Village of Saugerties: $24,326 - Tree planting
- Westchester County
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- Town of Bedford: $44,000 - Tree maintenance
- Village of Briarcliff Manor: $71,004 - Tree maintenance
- City of Mount Vernon: $48,600 - Tree planting
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban and Community Forestry Grants 2023 – Mid-Hudson Valley Awards:
- Ulster County
- City of Kingston - $732,375 for Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
- Westchester County
- City of New Rochelle - $41,600 for Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities
Community Reforestation (CoRe) Grants 2025 – Mid-Hudson Valley Awards:
- Putnam County
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County - $300,000.00; Tilly Foster Farm Forest Restoration
- Ulster County
- City of Kingston - $1,608,947.27; Kingston Parks Restoration
- Westchester County
- The Research Foundation for the State of New York - $499,942.00; SUNY Purchase Afforestation
- Village of Hastings on Hudson - $356,511.00; Hastings-on-Hudson Restoration
- Village of Irvington - $382,316.00; Irvington Woods Restoration
Visit DEC's Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program for more information about these grants. The Program does not currently have any open opportunities but there are other grants available that may work for urban forestry and green infrastructure projects.
Open Grant Applications
Find out if any of these grant opportunities from other DEC programs will work for your organization:
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Climate Smart Communities Grant Program
The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant program provides funding for municipalities to address greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and climate change adaptation at the local level.
- Application period closes July 31.
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Grants Program And Funding Opportunities For The Hudson River Estuary
Since 1999, DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program has offered grants to municipalities and non-profits located within the Hudson River's watershed (PDF) to help communities improve water quality, adapt to climate change, enhance environmental education, and advance stewardship of habitat and natural resources. This funding helps partners implement priorities outlines in the Hudson River Estuary Grants Program implements priorities outlined in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025.
- Application period closes August 7.
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Community Impact Grant Program
Funding for projects that will implement state assistance funding through the Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant program to not-for-profit corporation (NFP) community-based organizations or projects that address exposure of communities to multiple environmental harms and risks.
- Application period closes August 13.
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Green Resiliency Grants
This is a competitive grant program designed to support flood-prone communities in implementing transformative green infrastructure projects that combat the effects of extreme weather.
- Application period closes August 15.
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Community Forest Conservation Grant Program
This grant program funds municipal land acquisition for community forests. Community forests are publicly owned or publicly accessible open space properties that are vital for wildlife habitat, flood mitigation, recreational opportunities, public health, air quality, water quality, and to meet the obligations outlined in New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
- Application period closes September 7.
Do you have content related to this newsletter topic? Consider submitting potential content to amy.mackenzie@dec.ny.gov.
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