OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION IN STATE URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANTS
GRANTS SUPPORT RESILIENCY PLANNING, HAZARD MITIGATION AND REFORESTATION

(16/P76) TRENTON – The Department of Environmental Protection is awarding more than $1.5 million in grants to 32 municipalities across the state, Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.

The awards, $1,564,000 in total, are being issued by the New Jersey Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program through Community Stewardship Incentive Program (CSIP) grants.  These grants are designed to promote stewardship of community forests and trees through the implementation of Community Forestry Management Plans.

“It is important that our community forests are safe and resilient in the wake of natural disasters and insect infestations such as the Emerald Ash Borer,” said State Forester John Sacco, Assistant Director of the State Forest Service. “Active stewardship by our local governments, community volunteers and partners through these urban and community forestry projects is one of the most critical ways to ensure residents across New Jersey will see healthier and more sustainable forests.”

Grants range from $10,000 to $300,000 for work on projects from community tree inventory and ash surveys to risk reduction and tree planting.  The 2016 CSIP grants are funded by the “Treasure Our Trees” state license plate fund, the Green Acres program, and the No Net Loss Reforestation program. 

Resiliency planning grants have been awarded to the following municipalities: Franklin Township (Somerset County), Interlaken, Montclair, Totowa, and South Brunswick.

Hazard mitigation grants have been awarded to: Berkeley Heights, Bernards, Moorestown, Nutley, Pennington, Summit, and Washington (Burlington County).

Reforestation/tree planting grants have been awarded to: Bergenfield, Bloomfield, Bound Brook, Caldwell, Egg Harbor City, Freehold Borough, Garfield, Ho-Ho-Kus, Jersey City, Lawrence (Mercer County), Leonia, Manasquan, Morristown, Plainfield, Ridgefield, Rutherford, Secaucus, Washington (Warren County), Woodcliff Lake, and West Windsor Township.

“A comprehensive community forestry program provides environmental, social and economic benefits,” said Carrie Sargeant, Coordinator of the state’s Urban and Community Forestry program. “Communities with approved community forestry management plans are not only providing their residents with benefits now, but creating communities that are providing these benefits for generations to come.”

”West Windsor Township is very appreciative of the guidance and support offered by the New Jersey Community Forestry Program to help our community proactively manage the invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer insect as it threatens so much of our community tree resource,” said West Windsor Township Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh. “This grant will accelerate our sustainable management efforts and replant the large quantity of street trees that unfortunately will be lost.”

For more information, please visit us http://www.communityforestry.nj.gov and like State Forest Service’s Facebook page https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.facebook.com/newjerseyforests__;!!J30X0ZrnC1oQtbA!ereTZ0VnsSe0tQyL6PgIRLx-L3CPpCQohkdBYWju8jZL0AWFg0s4SpIsjB51tUyL36ckHA$

For more information on Community Stewardship Incentive Program grants, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/grantandloanprograms/nhr_csip.htm