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St. Croix–USDA FS Historic Investments in Equitable Access to Trees and Nature
St. Croix, USVI, January 24, 2024 —$6.5 million is being invested to plant and maintain trees in disadvantaged urban communities, tackle the climate crisis, and support jobs and workforce development in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands by the USDA Forest Service.
This funding is part of the announcement in September 2023 that the Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program is investing more than $1 billion in 385 grant awards nationwide to increase access to trees and the social, health, and economic benefits they provide.
The funding, made possible by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, supports local communities and the organizations that serve them as they work to increase tree cover in disadvantaged spaces and boost equitable access to nature.
“These investments arrive as cities across the country experience record-breaking heatwaves that have grave impacts on public health, energy consumption, and overall well-being,” said Secretary Vilsack. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are supporting communities in becoming more resilient to climate change and combatting extreme heat with the cooling effects of increased urban tree canopy, while also supporting employment opportunities and professional training that will strengthen local economies.”
| Project Title | Organization | Award |
|---|---|---|
|
Sustaining Forest & Human Health Thru GREEN LOVE |
Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture | $1,500,000 |
|
Strength of our R.O.O.T.S: The Community’s Reclamation of Our Trees & Soil in the St. George Botanical Garden, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
St. George Village Botanical Garden
|
$2,500,000 |
|
Healing Forests to Heal the Underserved for Life |
Virgin Islands Trail Alliance | $2,500,000 |
“There are a multitude of ecosystem services provided by forests and trees that support food production, nutrition, sustainability, as well as environmental and human health. Often, the availability of environmentally healthy spaces is scarce in urban areas, making people more susceptible to problems such as urban heat effect, food deserts, and related mental or physical problems. These funds and projects are intended to reduce that gap,” said Director Grizelle González, Director of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry of the Forest Service, which serves the Caribbean region, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Urban and Community Forestry Program supports the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and lack access to trees and nature.
All grant funding will flow to disadvantaged communities. Applicants used the White House Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) to help identify eligible communities. CEJST is a geospatial mapping tool that identifies communities faced with significant burdens, such as climate change, energy, health, housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development.
The Forest Service supports vibrant and healthy urban communities through supporting healthy urban forests. More information about the funded proposals, as well as announcements about the grant program, is available on the Forest Service website.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).
Page last modified: 01/22/2024
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