Syracuse awarded $15 million in reforestation grants
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — In celebration of Arbor Day, Governor Kathy Hochul announced $15 million in grant awards through New York State's new Community Reforestation (CoRe) program, with one of the projects set to take root in Onondaga County.
Sixteen funded projects will establish and expand resilient forests in and near New York's urban communities, contributing to the 2024 State of the State '25 Million Trees Initiative' launched by Governor Hochul. The goal is to recognize the importance of trees and forests for climate resiliency and community health.
'Resilient urban forests support community health, well-being and sustainability,' Hochul said. 'I'm celebrating Arbor Day 2025 by awarding $15 million in new grants to support projects across the State that will bring the countless ecological and economic benefits of trees to urban areas.'
Trees in urban areas help reduce high temperatures created by the urban heat island effect. CoRe-funded projects are mostly located in communities with high heat vulnerability. Studies show that forested natural areas can be as much as 10 degrees cooler than under the shade of a street tree just a few hundred feet away. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) administers the new CoRe grant program, which supports the state's efforts to plant 25 million trees by 2033.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, 'The CoRe grant-funded projects announced today will help make New York's communities cooler – expanding forest canopies, improving forest health, and moderating temperatures, all while engaging New Yorkers at the local, regional, and watershed levels. In addition to significant climate benefits, trees enhance biodiversity and improve overall community health and well-being for residents statewide.'
DEC is awarding more than $7.4 million to municipalities, particularly to restore woodlands in public parks. Invasive species removal and expansion of native forests in these open spaces are intended to enhance the ecosystem services provided to residents, particularly an enhanced canopy that provides shade and recreational opportunities.
A total of $5.3 million is awarded to not-for-profit organizations for a variety of volunteer-driven projects focused on promoting forest health at the ecosystem level, from riparian zone enhancement along the Upper Susquehanna watershed to protecting Bronx River ecological health.
Four projects totaling approximately $1.7 million will be awarded to the State University of New York (SUNY) for reforestation projects on college campuses. Projects will serve as 'living labs' for students to research best practices in tree planting, sustainable forest management, and ecological monitoring.
Funding for this round of the CoRe grant program was allocated by the Governor in the FY25 Enacted Budget. In addition to the $15 million allocation for the CoRe grant program, the Governor's initial commitment to the 25 Million Trees Initiative came with $32 million to modernize the Saratoga Tree Nursery and enhance DEC's technological capabilities for tracking tree planting and forest management across the state. The initiative is working to invigorate the State's tree planting efforts by scaling up public-sector tree planting efforts, invigorating the private sector, harnessing technology, and engaging the next generation of environmental stewards.
Although these grants will be scattered in locations, all through New York State, one of these grants is located right here in Onondaga County.
According to Hochul's team, the city of Syracuse will receive $2,080,083 for forest stand restoration. The city will restore eight degraded forest sites, totaling more than 38 acres, by planting trees to contribute to the goal of increasing the city's tree canopy by seven percent.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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