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ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERS OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN APPROVING THE PARKS & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT UP TO $550,000 FROM THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT - URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.
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WHEREAS, in 2009 recognizing that the City was removing more trees than it was planting the City embarked on a 10,000 tree campaign with the goal of planting more trees than are removed each year; and
WHEREAS, in 2010 recognizing the unique work of URI with its youth and ex-offender work programs, and its GIS platform to track data the Board of Alders designated URI the sole source vendor for the 10k tree campaign; and
WHEREAS, the City’s partnership with URI has expanded efforts to removing stumps to prioritize planting trees in Environmental Justice Communities; and
WHEREAS, funding from the U.S. Forest Service will allow the City to create an Urban Forest Master Plan that will serve as a road map to guide the future management of the New Haven urban forest; and
WHEREAS, an Urban Forest Master Plan will provide a strategic plan, based on data and community input, that will create an equitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient vision for the care, management, and growth of New Haven’s urban forest; and
WHEREAS, an Urban Forest Management Plan will broaden community engagement in local urban forest planning and aim to increase equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated human health, environmental and economic benefits in disadvantaged communities; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED THAT the Board of Alders of The City of New Haven approve a request from the Parks & Public Works Department to apply for and accept up to $550,000 from the U.S. Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act - Urban and Community forestry notice of funding opportunity.