Arthur Johnson, a longtime resident of New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, has seen firsthand the importance of trees in mitigating pollution and providing relief from extreme heat. “You’re not just cutting out the tree, the environment,” he said, emphasizing the devastating impact of deforestation in his community. Hurricane Katrina destroyed 200,000 trees across the city, and efforts to restore the urban canopy have struggled ever since.
A major setback came in February when the U.S. Forest Service terminated a $75 million grant to the Arbor Day Foundation, impacting tree-planting initiatives nationwide. The grant was part of the Inflation Reduction Act and aimed to support environmental projects in underserved communities. The Forest Service cited changing priorities regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion as the reason for the cancellation. “This was an opportunity to make a really meaningful impact on people’s lives, so it’s been disappointing,” said Dan Lambe, the Arbor Day Foundation’s chief executive.
In New Orleans, part of the grant was allocated to Sustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL), which has planted over 1,600 trees in historically Black neighborhoods. Now, plans for another 900 trees are on hold. “We kind of are lost because we don’t know if we should be planning to close our doors or if we should be planning for next season,” said SOUL’s founder and executive director, Susannah Burley. The loss of funding also means SOUL can’t water existing trees or hire new employees.
The benefits of trees extend beyond aesthetics. Research shows they reduce heat stress by 25% to 35%, capture stormwater, and improve air quality. However, lower-income communities often lack green spaces, exacerbating urban heat effects.
The funding cut is also affecting other communities nationwide. In Butte-Silver Bow, Montana, forester Trevor Peterson was set to use a $745,250 grant for tree planting and community education. “We will now have to go back to the drawing board,” he said. In Oregon, the nonprofit Urban Rural and Community Forestry lost funding intended to help replant trees destroyed by wildfires. “This is a rural red area that needs it badly,” said its director, Mike Oxendine.
Without funding, these projects face an uncertain future, leaving vulnerable communities without critical environmental protections.
Link: AP News
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