Eastern Region grant greens rural, low-income Massachusetts communities
MASSACHUSETTS — An Eastern Region Landscape Scale Restoration grant is helping to green three low-income Massachusetts communities, while contributing to a stronger, more resilient rural America and improving environmental equity.
The $219,399 LSR grant is supporting “Grassroots Tree Planting in Three Small Low-Income Cities within Rural Massachusetts,” a project coordinated by the Franklin Land Trust that will plant 1,800 trees across Greenfield, Montague and North Adams. These small communities, located in western Massachusetts, serve as the “gateway” to the highest-priority forests in the State Forest Action Plan.
Despite their proximity to the largest forested landscapes in Massachusetts, Greenfield, Montague and North Adams have many areas with low tree density. With the newly planted trees, residents there will benefit from improved air and water quality, shaded buildings and reduced stormwater runoff. Higher tree cover is also likely to increase property values, an important benefit in an area that sees high poverty rates.
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