DLNR: Grants available for planting native trees

Individuals and organizations interested in planting native trees and removing invasive weeds to help with climate resiliency are encouraged to apply to a new grant opportunity, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Approximately $4.5 million is available from a grant from the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The program’s focus on public-private partnerships enables private companies, landowners, local communities and other nongovernment partners to keep lands resilient, water clean, and to promote economic growth in a variety of industries.

The funding opportunity prioritizes work in upper-elevation native forests that receive the most rainfall and are critical to recharging freshwater supplies.

Additionally, lands and projects with the highest potential for carbon sequestration (if reforested) are also targeted with this funding.

The project also seeks to include sites that are part of a landscape-scale watershed management strategy to lessen the impacts from climate change, reduce flooding and erosion onto coral reefs, and protect biological diversity.

“Thanks to state funds provided by the Legislature for watershed protection, we are eligible to receive additional federal funding that multiplies the state’s investment,” DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said in a statement. “We are grateful for the incredible partnership with (the Natural Resources Conservation Service) that will result in landscape-scale improvements to our watershed forests. We are looking forward to making new community partners who apply for native forest protection and restoration projects.”

Applications are due by Aug. 5.

To apply, visit https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities/opportunity-details/21622.