San Diego gets $10M grant for tree planting
TL/DR –
San Diego is set to benefit from a $10 million federal grant as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at increasing the city’s urban forest. The grant will fund the planting of thousands of trees in historically underserved communities, providing benefits such as carbon sequestration, stormwater runoff management, air cleaning, and shade. The grant is expected to be awarded in the spring and allows for a five-year period of use at the city’s discretion, with potential opportunities for volunteers to participate in tree planting events.
A new $10 million federal grant under the Inflation Reduction Act will bolster tree planting efforts in San Diego’s underserved communities, enhancing the city’s urban forest.
City Forester, Brian Widener, stated that thousands of trees will be planted in historically underserved communities around San Diego, increasing shade and combating escalating summer heat.
Benefits of this urban forestry project extend beyond aesthetics. “Carbon sequestration, carbon storage,” listed Widener, “They help with stormwater runoff through their root systems and leaf systems when it rains. They clean our air by capturing small particulates in the air, and then on top of that they provide things like shade.”
Dr. Stephen Lehmann highlighted the advantages of planting not only street trees or gardens but also large leaf native species. “The native tree species will need more water but also large leaves will cast more shadows which is nice to see them… and much more comfortable. But it cools down the surface of the city.”
“We have about 100 different tree species on the City’s Tree Selection Guide for street trees,” added Widener. “All of those trees fit those kinds of characteristics where they’re somewhat drought tolerant, and they can do well in this kind of climate where we get a little bit of rain during the winter months and then we have long periods of time without rain.”
The grant, expected to be awarded in the spring, allows for a 5-year period for usage at the city’s discretion. Widener also expressed hopes for community involvement in the tree planting efforts.
For more information on San Diego’s urban forest, visit the Trees program webpage.
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