Trees reduce our energy costs by shading buildings, slowing down winds and reducing heat loss. They also help improve air quality and reduce flooding by intercepting storm water. That’s why the Department of Natural Resources is encouraging communities to use two grant programs to increase the number of healthy local trees.
Trees For Kids offers hands-on educational opportunities for Iowa youth by planting trees on school grounds and other public places. The grant pays up to $5,000 in tree and mulch cost, and provides educational tree planting demonstrations to participants.
Iowa communities with populations over 5,000 can apply for Sustainable Community Forestry grants. Selected communities will get intensive training on tree identification, health, planting and maintenance, as well as a complete street tree inventory, canopy cover analysis and an urban tree management plan.
For further details and grant applications, go to www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/Forestry/UrbanForestry.aspx. The deadline to apply is September 1.